The 
Hornets 


E-P-ROE 


The 
lornet's  Nest 


A  Story  of  Love  and  War 


New  York 
Dodd,  Mead  and  Company 


Copyright,  1886, 
BY  E.  P.  ROE. 


Copyright  1887, 1892, 
BY  DODD,  MEAD  AND  COMPANY. 

All  rights  reserved. 


CONTENTS.. 


CHAPTER.  PACK. 

I.  A    MIDNIGHT   BATTLE,        ...  7 

II.  AN    HEROIC   DEED,         ....  31 

III.  HEADLONG    FLIGHT,             ...  53 

IV.  THE   AMBUSCADE,           ....  76 
V.  TORY   ROBBERS,          ....  96 

VI.  THE   BATTLE   OF   THE   BEES,           -           -  117 

VII.  PARTING  BLOWS  AND  WEDDING  BUGLES,  137 


2137852 


THE  HORNETS1  NEST. 


CHAPTER  I. 

A    MIDNIGHT    BATTLE. 

IT  will  be  remembered  that  Charlotte  is 
the  chief  town  of  the  "  heady  high- 
minded  "  and  famous  county  of  Mecklen 
burg,  North  Carolina,  whose  people  vir 
tually  declared  their  independence  of 
England  a  year  before  Congress  followed 
their  example  and  gave  us  our  "glorious 
Fourth  of  July."  Lord  Cornwallis,  com 
mander  of  the  British  army,  on  his  retreat 
from  this  village,  halted  at  a  plantation 
and  became  the  unwelcome  guest  of  Mrs. 
Robert  Wilson,  wife  of  the  owner  of  the 
estate.  His  lordship  sought  by  flattering 


8  A   MIDNIGHT  BATTLE. 

words  to  win  this  patriotic  woman  to  roy 
alistic  views. 

She  replied,  "  I  have  seven  sons,  who 
are  now,  or  who  have  been,  bearing  arms  ; 
indeed,  my  seventh  son,  Zaccheus,  who  is 
only  fifteen  years  old,  I  yesterday  assisted 
to  get  ready  to  go  and  join  his  father  and 
brothers  in  Sumter's  army.  Now,  sooner 
than  see  one  of  my  family  turn  back,  I 
would  take  these  boys  (pointing  to  three 
small  sons)  and  with  them  would  myself 
enlist  and  show  my  husband  and  sons 
how  to  fight,  and,  if  necessary,  to  die  for 
their  country." 

"  Ah,  ah,  general,"  said  the  bloody- 
handed  Colonel  Tarleton,  at  his  elbow, 
"  I  think  you've  got  into  a  hornets'  nest." 

Either  from  this  remark,  or  on  account 
of  the  unconquerable  spirit  and  fighting 
qualities  of  the  people,  the  region,  of 
which  the  village  of  Charlotte  was  the 
centre,  became  known  during  the  Rev 
olution  as  the  "  Hornets'  Nest."  Corn- 
wallis  always  spoke  of  it  under  this  title. 
The  following  story,  founded  upon  his 
torical  facts,  may  serve  to  show  how  active 


A   MIDNIGHT  BATTLE.  9 

were  some  of  the  boys,  like  young  Zach 
Wilson,  in  earning  the  epithet.  In  1780 
the  British  army  was  at  Charlotte  only 
nineteen  days,  but  a  good  deal  happened 
in  that  brief  time. 

The  scene  of  my  story  opens  at  a  plan 
tation  which  gave  evidence  of  thrift  and 
homely  abundance.  The  house  also  was, 
for  that  early  day,  roomy  and  comforta 
ble.  The  family  consisted  of  Mrs.  Mcln- 
tire,  her  daughter  Ella,  a  blue-eyed  lassie 
of  eighteen,  her  son  Angus,  nearly  seven 
teen,  and  two  little  girls.  They  were 
just  finishing  their  dinner  when  they  were 
hastily  summoned  to  the  veranda  by  thfr 
distant  clatter  of  a  horse's  hoofs. 

"  It's  Burton  Craige,"  cried  Angus, 
"  and  I  reckon  there's  trouble  from  the 
way  he  rides." 

It  was  evident  that  Ella  had  recognized 
the  horseman  also,  for  her  color  heightened 
and  her  eyes  were  full  of  eager  interest. 
Although  Burton  Craige  was  but  a  year 
older  than  herself,  he  was  her  acknowl 
edged  lover  and  her  mother  already  loved 
him  as  a  son.  The  same  terrible  misfor- 


10  A  MIDNIGHT  BATTLE. 

tune  had  drawn  them  together  and  ce 
mented  the  ties  of  neighborly  friendship. 
Burton's  father  and  Mrs.  Mclntire's  hus 
band  had  both  been  killed  in  battle  by  the 
troops  commanded  by  the  relentless 
Tarleton.  Young  Craige's  mother  had 
been  feeble  at  the  time  and  did  not  long 
survive  the  shock  of  her  husband's  death. 
Burton  resided  with  a  maiden  aunt  who, 
from  temperament,  was  able  to  do  little 
toward  replacing  those  whom  he  had  lost. 
The  orphan,  therefore,  had  naturally 
sought  and  found  sympathy  and  com 
panionship  at  the  home  to  which  he  was 
now  so  rapidly  approaching.  He  was  a 
manly  young  fellow  whom  outdoor  life 
and  sports  had  developed  into  fine  and 
vigorous  proportions.  The  heavy  down 
on  his  upper  lip  and,  his  dark,  full  eyes 
bespoke  the  early  coming  of  manhood 
and  a  fearless  spirit. 

"What  is  it?"  cried  Angus,  running 
forward  to  meet  him.  "  Is  the  enemy 
moving  up?" 

'Yes,"  replied    the   youth,   hurriedly. 
"  Cornwallis  is  on  the  march  and  bloody 


A   MIDNIGHT  BATTLE.  II 

Tarleton  is  with  him.  Graham  has  sum 
moned  volunteers  to  Charlotte  and  I'm 
on  my  way  there,  but  reckoned  I'd  stop 
and  see  if  you  wanted  to  go  with  me." 

"  Of  course  I  do.  Ho,  there,  Joe," 
shouting  to  a  negro  at  the  barn,  "  saddle 
my  horse,  quick.  I'll  get  my  rifle  and  be 
ready  in  five  minutes  !" 

"  Oh,  Angus,  what  are  you  going  to 
do?"  cried  his  mother.  "Burton,  you 
will  not  lead  my  son  into  danger  ?" 

The  youth  had  now  dismounted  and 
thrown  the  reins  of  his  horse  to  a  slave 
who  had  hastened  forward.  He  was 
greeted  as  if  already  one  of  the  family, 
and  answered  with  a  grim  sort  of  laugh, 
"  I  reckon  Angus  is  his  father's  son  and 
won't  need  much  leading."  Then  he 
added  gravely  and  almost  tenderly, 
"Mother,  dear"  (the  warm-hearted  fellow 
had  already  given  her  this  title),  "we  must 
look  at  things  as  they  are.  Gus  and  I 
are  your  protectors  now,  and  we  can 
sight  a  rifle  as  well  as  if  we  were  twenty 
years  older.  What  would  our  fathers 
say,  could  they  speak,  if  we  should  skulk 


12  A   MIDNIGHT  BATTLE. 

now  that  their  murderer  is  coming? 
What,  indeed,  would  you  and  Ella  think 
of  us?" 

"  But  what  can  you  two  boys  do  ?" 

"  We  can  do  as  much  as  men  ;  or,  if  we 
can't,  we  can  learn.  Gus  and  I  can  plant 
a  bullet  where  we  want  to  at  pretty  long 
range,  and  our  bullets  would  do  the  busi 
ness  for  Tarleton  and  his  cut-throats  as 
thoroughly  as  if  fired  by  a  gray-beard. 
What's  more,  I  can  use  my  sabre  and 
pistols,  if  much  drill  has  been  of  any  use. 
We'll  promise  to  be  prudent,  mother,  but 
we  wouldn't  deserve  our  names  if  we 
hung  back  until  the  British  came  and 
drove  you  and  my  Ella  and  the  children 
into  the  woods.  The  whole  country-side, 
young  and  old,  will  be  arming  and  taking 
a  hand  in  this  game,  and  you  wouldn't 
have  us  hang  back  ?  " 

"  No,  indeed,  mother,"  cried  Ella,  al 
though  tears  dimmed  her  eyes.  "  Bur 
ton's  right.  He  and  Angus  are  doing  as 
I  would  do  if  I  were  a  man.  Young  as 
they  are,they  must  act  the  part  of  men." 

"  And  you,  sweetheart,  are  acting  the 


A    MIDNIGHT  BATTLE.  13 

part  of  a  brave  little  woman.  You're 
the  kind  for  a  soldier's  wife.  Believe 
me,  mother,  danger  would  soon  find  us  if 
we  shunned  it,  and  we  take  the  best 
chance  of  escaping  by  meeting  it  halfway. 
To  protect  you  we  must  drive  our  enemy 
back  or  else  make  the  country  too  hot  for 
them.  Of  course  we  are  not  going  to  run, 
like  a  pair  of  fools,  right  into  their  clutches. 
From  behind  trees,  fences  and  all  sorts  of 
cover,  we,  like  our  friends  farther  south, 
must  annoy  them  with  well-aimed  shots. 
All  we  can  do  to-day  is  to  ride  down  to 
Charlotte  to  see  what  the  prospects  are, 
and  show  that  we,  of  all  others,  are  not 
backward." 

Angus  had  joined  them  and  now  stood 
with  his  right  arm  around  his  mother, 
while  he  held  his  rifle  in  his  left  hand. 
He  had  her  blue  eyes,  but  they  were 
quiet  and  resolute.  His  father's  death 
and  the  responsibility  it  had  imposed  had 
sobered  and  developed  him  beyond  his 
years.  The  mother  saw  his  expression 
and  knew  its  meaning. 

"  Yes,  boys,"  she  said  very  sadly.     "  I 


14  A   MIDNIGHT  BATTLE. 

see  how  it  is,  and  suppose  you  are  taking 
the  right  course,  but  you  can't  know  how 
a  mother's  heart  shrinks  from  what  may 

happen.       I've   suffered   too    much " 

Then  kissing  them  both,  she  hastily 
entered  the  house. 

In  a  few  moments  they  were  gallop 
ing  swiftly  away,  presenting  a  fine  con 
trast  as  they  sat  their  fleet  horses  with  the 
ease  of  Southern  youth,  who  are  almost 
brought  up  in  the  saddle.  They  were 
dressed  in  blue  hunting  shirts  belted  at 
the  waist  and  fringed  around  the  bottom. 
Close-fitting  knee-breeches  of  blue  home 
spun  jeans,  and  stockings  of  like  color, 
set  off  their  lithe  shapely  limbs,  while 
moccasins  that  would  give  them  a  noise 
less  tread  encased  their  feet.  Their  hats 
were  made  of  raccoon  skins,  with  the  tails 
hanging  jauntily  towards  the  left  shoulder. 
Though  scarcely  more  than  boys,  they 
could  prove  formidable  foes  with  their 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  rough,  wooded 
country,  and  their  celerity  of  movement. 
Burton  was  the  larger  and  stronger  of 
the  two  and  inclined  to  be  impetuous; 


A   MIDNIGHT  BA  TTLE.  1 5 

but  Angus  had  the  cool,  wary  courage  of 
his  Scotch  ancestry.  A  sense  of  the  great 
injury  which  he  and  his  family  had  suf 
fered  was  like  a  slow  steady  fire  in  his 
veins,  but  he  was  not  one  to  incur  risks 
from  passionate,  hasty  action.  Burton, 
on  the  other  hand,  although  he  assumed 
the  leadership  naturally  his  from  age, 
would  often  need  restraining  counsel. 

They  found  the  little  village  of  Charlotte 
seething  with  excitement,  and  many  of  the 
women  almost  beside  themselves  with 
terror.  Cornwallis  and  the  ruthless  Tarle- 
ton  were  said  to  be  not  many  miles 
away,  and  marching  on  the  place.  The 
two  friends  soon  fell  in  with  their  ac 
quaintance,  young  George  Graham,  who 
was  one  of  those  natural  leaders  that  are 
always  developed  in  stormy  times.  Al 
though  scarcely  a  year  the  senior  of  Bur 
ton,  yet  he  had  already  gathered  several 
daring  spirits  about  him.  Angus  and  Bur 
ton  at  once  joined  this  group.  George  was 
acting  under  the  orders  of  his  brother, 
Major  Joseph  Graham,  who  had  been  sent 
to  Charlotte  to  take  command  of  the  vol- 


1 6  A   MIDNIGHT  BATTLE. 

unteers  there  as  soon  as  it  was  clear  that 
the  British  army  was  marching  on  the 
place.  This  brave  officer  had  enlisted  in 
the  regular  Continental  army  when  but 
nineteen,  and  had  already  seen  much  dan 
gerous  service.  He  was  now  but  twenty- 
one,  yet  to  him  looked  both  young  and 
old  for  the  protection  of  their  town  and 
their  homes.  All  the  men  of  the  village 
capable  of  bearing  arms  were  under  his 
command,  and  in  the  terrible  emergency 
grandsires  and  grandsons  mustered  side 
by  side.  From  the  surrounding  country 
motley  groups  of  men  and  boys,  clad  in 
homespun,  came  riding  or  trudging  in  and 
reporting  to  the  boy-like  looking  major, 
who  nevertheless  was  respected  not  only 
for  his  character,  but  also  for  the  reason 
that  he  had  often  proven  himself  cool  and 
brave  under  the  enemy's  fire.  Nothing 
gave  one  greater  prestige  among  raw 
recruits  than  the  reputation  of  having 
smelt  gunpowder  before,  and  young  Joe 
Graham  was  looked  upon  as  a  regular 
"  fire-eater."  He  made  good  his  fame 
within  the  next  twenty-four  hours.  Indeed, 


A   MIDNIGHT  BATTLE.  1 7 

he  inspired  confidence  in  his  men  at  once 
by  carefully  looking  after  their  comfort 
and  effectiveness.  Not  a  moment  was 
spent  in  idle  vaporings  or  confused  coun 
sels.  His  orders  were  prompt  and  deci 
sive,  and  the  respite  given  before  the  ap 
proach  of  the  enemy  was  employed  in 
seeing  that  all  had  ammunition  suited  to 
their  weapons.  But  few  of  these  old  flint 
lock  rifles  and  shot-guns  were  alike,  and 
unless  the  powder-horns  were  full,  and  the 
pouches  supplied  with  bullets  that  would 
fit  the  bore^of  the  barrel,  they  would  be 
but  Quaker  guns.  The  majority  brought 
their  ammunition,  but  this  at  that  day 
was  very  scarce,  and  not  a  few  were  with 
out  any.  Some  had  the  single-barrel  flint 
lock  pistols  then  in  vogue,  and  others  non 
descript  sabres  made  of  saws  ground  to 
an  edge.  But  they  were  in  the  hands  of 
resolute  men,  who  hoped  to  obtain  better 
weapons  from  their  slain  or  captured  ene 
mies. 

Graham  was  in  frequent  communica 
tion  with  Colonel  Davie,  who,  with  his 
force,  was  skirmishing  in  front  of  the 


1 8  A  MIDNIGHT  BATTLE. 

British,  and  seeking  to  impede  its  march. 
Late  in  the  afternoon  George  Graham 
was  sent  by  his  brother  to  Davie  to  ob 
tain  further  information,  and  Burton  and 
Angus  volunteered  to  accompany  him. 
By  nightfall  they  met  the  vanguard  of 
the  small  force  whose  very  audacity  had 
doubled  their  numbers  in  British  estima 
tion.  Both  the  hostile  forces  halted  in 
the  evening  to  rest  and  cook  supper,  and 
the  Whig  soldiers,  with  quick  hospitality, 
shared  their  coarse,  limited  rations  with 
the  three  young  men  who  had  joined 
them.  About  ten  o'clock  the  moon  rose, 
and  scouts  came  in  with  tidings  that  the 
English  army  was  again  in  [motion, 
Graham  and  his  followers  took  places  in 
the  rear  of  the  little  column  led  by 
Davie,  who  now  contented  himself  with 
keeping  well  in  advance,  that  he  might 
carry  out  a  plan  that  was  forming  in  his 
mind.  His  active  scouts  hovered  in 
front  of  the  enemy,  and,  while  doing 
nothing  to  provoke  a  conflict,  kept  suffi 
ciently  near  to  note  all  movements. 
Thus  the  two  commands — the  little 


A    MIDNIGHT  BATTLE.  19 

handful  of  men  with  Davie  and  the 
British  army  led  by  the  world-renowned 
nobleman  and  general,  Cornwallis — 
moved  steadily  forward  through  the  night 
over  the  hilly  country-road.  Some 
times  the  moon's  rays  glinted  faintly 
on  rifle-barrels,  bayonets  and  scabbards, 
but  more  often  men  and  horses  marched 
in  dim  outline  beneath  the  shadowy 
forest. 

When  it  became  evident  that  the  enemy 
proposed  to  enter  the  town  that  night, 
George  Graham  and  his  two  friends  were 
directed  to  ride  forward  rapidly  and  re 
port  the  fact  to  Major  Graham.  There 
had  been  no  sleep  in  Charlotte,  and  when 
the  small  Whig  force  under  Davie  arrived 
at  midnight,  it  received  a  warm  welcome. 
The  tidings  brought  kindled  the  flames  of 
excitement  seven  times  hotter.  The 
British  army,  the  terrible  Tarleton,  was 
but  a  mile  away  and  coming  directly  on. 
Some  besought  Davie's  protection  and 
then  regretted  their  request,  for  his  effort 
to  comply  would  bring  on  a  battle  about 
their  very  doors.  But  the  policy  of  the 


20  A    MIDNIGHT  BATTLE. 

resolute  partisan  officers  was  not  to  be 
influenced  by  the  conflicting  views  of  the 
villagers,  who,  like  so  many  other  residents 
in  war-trampled  regions,  must  take  their 
•chances  like  the  soldiers.  The  majority 
of  the  men,  and  indeed  of  the  women  of 
Charlotte,  were  eager  that  at  least  one 
blow  should  be  struck  before  their  hearths 
were  desecrated.  We  can  have  little  idea 
of  the  depth  of  feeling  which  then  existed. 
Cornwallis  had  ordered  the  hanging  of 
many  patriots  whom  the  people  of  this  re 
gion  knew  well.  Tarleton's  troopers  had 
not  only  fought  the  Whig  soldiery  with 
fiery  courage,  but  also  had  savagely  butch 
ered  them  after  they  had  surrendered. 
And  now  at  the  dread  hour  of  midnight 
these  cruel  officers  and  their  red-handed 
men  were  approaching  defenceless  homes. 
Little  wonder  that  there  was  either  al 
most  mortal  terror  or  desperate  cour 
age  on  every  side,  according  to  the 
temper  of  those  who  faced  the  awful 
emergency. 

Colonel  Davie's  quick  eye  soon  took 
in  the  chances  for  defence.     The  forty 


A   MIDNIGHT  BATTLE.  21 

odd  houses  were  built  on  streets  that 
intersected  each  other  at  right  angles.  In 
front  of  the  court-house  was  a  stone  wall 
breast-high.  Dismounting  his  cavalry  he 
placed  them  'behind  this  partial  cover. 
Farther  on  down  the  street  by  which  the 
British  would  enter,  and  lining  it  on 
either  side,  were  fences  and  garden-shrub 
bery.  Behind  these  obstructions  he 
placed  his  infantry  and  the  men  of  the 
region  who  had  volunteered  under  the 
leadership  of  Major  Graham. 

Now  that  a  battle  seemed  inevitable, 
there  was  no  thought  of  flinching  on  the 
part  of  our  two  friends,  Burton  and 
Angus.  They,  with  others,  rode  rapidly 
to  the  eastern  side  of  the  village  and  tied 
their  horses,  leaving  them  in  charge  of 
Zach  Wilson,  since  he  was  the  youngest 
of  the  party.  Then  they  hastened  back 
and  took  position  under  the  orders  of 
Graham  behind  a  garden  fence  nearest 
to  the  advance  of  the  enemy. 

"  I  hate  this  skulking,"  said  Burton, 
whose  eyes  glowed  like  coals  in  the 
moonlight.  "  If  I  were  only  on  my  good 


22  A    MIDNIGHT  BATTLE. 

horse  it  would  be  glorious  to  ride  straight 
at  'em  with  a  sharp  sabre." 

"  Nonsense  !  "  said  Angus,  quietly, 
"you  know  it  would  be  ridiculous  instead 
of  glorious.  What  could  you  or  all  of  us 
do,  riding  straight  at  the  whole  British 
army  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  know  Graham  and  Davie  are 
right,"  replied  Burton,  with  his  grim  laugh, 
"  I  was  only  saying  how  I'd  like  to  do 
things.  Some  day,  before  the  scrimmage 
is  over,  I  hope  to  have  a  chance  for  a 
charge  in  an  open  field.  Then  one 
would  feel  like  a  soldier  instead  of  a 
skulking  hunter." 

"  Father  used  to  say  that  those  were 
the  best  soldiers  who  best  obeyed  orders 
and  carried  out  their  officers'  plans.  I'm 
content  to  be  where  I  am,  and  I  feel  as  if 
I  could  almost  die  for  the  chance  to  draw 
my  bead  on  Tarleton.  Oh  !  see ;  there 
they  are.  They  are  forming  on  the  com 
mon.  Let  us  hold  our  fire  'till  we  are 
sure  of  our  man." 

The  boy  was  quite  as  deeply  stirred  as 
his  older  comrade,  but  in  his  case  excite- 


A   MIDNIGHT  BATTLE.  23 

ment  tended  to  steady  his  nerves  and 
banish  the  thought  of  fear. 

By  this  time  every  house  was  closed 
and  doors  and  windows  barred.  Within 
were  trembling  women  and  children, 
some  weeping,  some  praying  for  fathers, 
husbands,  brothers,  and  lovers.  Without, 
the  moonlight  revealed  the  dusky,  mo 
tionless  forms  of  men,  their  white,  stern 
faces  and  gleaming  rifle  barrels. 

After  a  brief  halt  upon  the  common, 
spent  by  the  British  in  reconnoitring  the 
position  of  their  enemy,  the  stillness  was 
broken  by  the  clangor  of  a  trumpet 
sounding  a  charge.  With  skirmish  line 
in  front,  the  English  infantry  moved  for 
ward  promptly  on  the  flanks,  while  Tarle- 
ton's  cavalry  followed  slowly  in  the 
centre. 

The  two  friends  saw  them  coming  and 
knew  that  they  two  would  be  among  the 
first  engaged. 

"  Heavens  !  how  white  you  are,  Angus," 
Burton  whispered. 

The  boy  gave  a  quick  gasp,  his 
mouth  twitched  for  a  moment,  and  then 


24  A   MIDNIGHT  BATTLE. 

he  faltered,  "  Burton,  I  never  fired  at  a 
man  before.  No  matter  how  right  and 
just  it  is,  it  seems  an  awful  thing  to  take 
aim  at  a  man." 

"  Drive  away  such  thoughts,  Gus. 
They'll  soon  take  aim  at  you  and  they 
killed  your  father." 

"  Ah  !  yes,  they  killed  my  father,"  and 
the  delicate  mouth  became  firm,  the  face 
that  was  almost  girlish  in  the  moonlight 
stern  and  quiet  with  its  purpose. 

The  warm-hearted  Burton  put  his  arm 
about  the  boy's  neck  in  the  shadow  of  a 
bush  and  kissed  him.  "  Give  that  to 
Ella  if  any  thing  happens  to  me,"  he  said. 
"  How  strangely  you  look  like  her  at  this 
moment !  Ha  !  the  ball's  begun." 

There  was  a  flash  from  a  musket  on 
the  skirmish  line  and  a  bullet  whizzed  by. 
Then  many  other  reports  followed,  the 
British  infantry  closed  up  and  sought  to 
dislodge  Graham  and  his  party  from  their 
cover. 

Burton,  Angus,  and  George  Graham 
were  on  the  left  side  of  the  street.  The 
young  major  commanding  often  appeared 


A   MIDNIGHT  BATTLE.  2$ 

with  an  encouraging  word.  Indeed,  he 
was  so  active  that  he  seemed  gifted  with 
the  power  of  being  in  many  places  at 
once,  and  his  acquaintance  with  the  men 
enabled  him  to  address  them  by  name 
and  to  say  words  of  cheer  and  confidence 
which  steadied  the  aim  of  many  a  poor 
fellow  now  for  the  first  time  under  fire. 
Our  young  friends  did  not  belong  to  the 
ordinary  raw  militia  class,  but  were  finely 
nurtured  youths  and  inspired  by  motives 
of  the  strongest  character.  The  "sing" 
of  the  first  bullet  stung  Angus  like  a  cut 
from  a  whip.  In  an  instant  he  took  aim 
at  a  dark  form  on  the  enemy's  line  whence 
a  flash  had  proceeded,  and  fired  ;  then 
saw,  with  a  strange  thrill,  that  there  was 
a  gap  in  that  line.  For  the  next  few 
moments  he,  Burton  and  all  about  them 
were  loading  and  firing  as  rapidly  as  pos 
sible.  But  the  British  infantry  came 
steadily  forward  on  both  flanks,  creeping 
along  the  sides  of  the  street,  breaking 
through  and  leaping  over  garden  fences 
and  other  obstructions  ;  while  moving 
slowly  up  through  the  centre  of  the  street 


26  A   MIDNIGHT  BA  TTLE. 

advanced  a  solid  body  of  cavalry.  Again 
a  trumpet  resounded  above  the  crash  of 
musketry,  and,  as  if  each  horse  had  felt 
the  touch  of  a  spur,  they  all  sprung  into 
a  gallop.  Their  riders,  with  sabres  flash 
ing  in  the  pale  light,  and  yells  that,  to 
the  poor  women  in  the  houses,  sounded 
like  the  cries  of  demons,  dashed  by.  All 
knew  that  Tarleton's  ruthless  cavalry  was 
charging,  led,  as  it  was  then  believed,  by 
Tarleton  himself. 

Burton  and  Angus,  all  unaccustomed 
to  the  sights  and  sounds  of  battle,  fairly 
held  their  breath  as  the  English  troopers 
thundered  by  but  a  few  feet  away.  The 
very  ground  appeared  to  tremble,  and  it 
seemed  to  them  that  nothing  could  re 
sist  the  headlong  onset.  Indeed,  it  was 
almost  a  moment  of  panic,  for  the  young 
volunteers  saw  that  their  comrades  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  street  were  giving 
way  rapidly,  pursued  by  the  British  flank 
ing  infantry. 

But  Major  Graham's  voice  rang  out 
above  the  din,  "  Steady,  boys.  Don't 
mind  the  cavalry;  Davie  will  take  care  of 


A   MIDNIGHT  BATTLE.  27 

them.  Look  to  the  flankers  here  on  your 
left.  They're  your  game.  Aim  as  if  you 
were  shooting  squirrels  out  of  tree-tops," 
and  snatching  a  rifle  from  a  trembling 
fellow  he  stepped  out  in  advance  of  his 
men  and  dropped  a  leading  British  soldier. 

But  the  report  of  his  weapon  was 
drowned  by  a  roar  of  musketry  at  the 
court-house,  about  eighty  yards  up  the 
street.  The  long  stone  wall  behind  which 
Colonel  Davie  had  posted  his  men  seemed 
lined  with  fire.  The  headlong  charge  of 
the  British  troopers  was  checked  ;  the  van 
crumbled  away ;  a  moment  later  they 
came  galloping  wildly  back,  confused, 
astounded,  shattered. 

"Hurrah!"  shouted  Burton,  and  he 
emptied  a  saddle  of  one  flying  form.  His 
cry  of  exultation  was  taken  up  and  re 
sounded  up  and  down  the  line ;  mean 
while  the  volunteers  continued  loading 
and  firing  with  feverish  eagerness. 

Angus  had  reserved  his  fire  until  the 
last  moment  as  the  cavalry  retreated. 
His  hope  was  to  single  out  a  man  whose 
orders  and  air  of  authority  might  indicate 


28  A   MIDNIGHT  BA  TTLE. 

the  hated  Tarleton,  for  the  boy  did  not 
know  then  that  Tarleton  was  ill  and  that 
Major  Hanger  was  in  command.  At  last, 
in  the  rear  he  saw  an  officer  who  was 
endeavoring  to  check  the  flight  of  the 
troopers.  Angus  covered  him  and  fired  ; 
a  horse  rushed  away  riderless  and  the 
panic  near  was  redoubled. 

The  British  flanking  infantry,  with  the 
steadiness  of  veterans,  continued  to  ad 
vance,  paying  no  attention  to  the  for 
tunes  of  their  cavalry.  Graham's  right, 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street,  had 
been  driven  well  back,  and  his  left  was  in 
peril  of  being  surrounded.  Davie  saw 
the  danger,  and  sent  orders  that  all  the 
volunteers  should  fall  back  and  form  lines 
on  both  flanks  with  him  at  the  court 
house.  This  change  was  soon  effected, 
the  men  firing  as  they  retreated. 

Stung  by  their  repulse,  and  inspired  by 
the  success  of  the  infantry  on  their 
flanks,  the  British  cavalry  were  again  led 
*n  a  furious  charge  by  Major  Hanger. 
Angus  was  now  on  the  right  of  the  line 
near  the  court-house  fence,  and  some- 


A  MIDNIGHT  BATTLE.  2  9 

what  in  advance.  He,  with  Burton,  was 
in  a  little  garden  enclosure  embowered 
in  shrubbery ;  and  the  two  youths  no 
longer  felt  the  half-paralyzing  awe  which 
for  a  moment  had  impressed  them  at  the 
first  charge.  Indeed,  the  younger  boy 
was  peering  through  a  bush  with  the  eye 
of  an  eagle  that  he  might  detect  the  man 
whom  he  regarded  as  the  slayer  of  his 
father.  As  the  troop  thundered  nearer, 
his  attention  was  caught  by  a  dragoon  on 
the  right,  who  was  waving  his  sabre  and 
looking  back  toward  the  rushing  force. 
Even  to  the  boy's  inexperienced  eyes  this 
man  seemed  the  leader,  and  he  covered 
him  with  his  rifle,  but  waited  until 
greater  nearness  gave  accuracy  to  his 
aim.  Then  he  fired,  and  saw  this  man 
reel  in  his  saddle.  The  next  instant  out 
leaped  again  the  line  of  fire  along  the 
court-house  fence,  and  the  front  lines 
of  the  charging  cavalry  crumbled  and 
melted  away  as  it  smitten  by  a  blast 
from  a  furnace.  Those  in  the  rear  still 
pressed  forward  for  a  moment,  but  a  sec 
ond  rank  behind  the  fence  poured  in 


30  A    MIDNIGHT  BA  TTLE. 

another  volley,  and  from  rifles  like  those 
of  Burton  and  Angus  on  the  flanks  scat 
tering  but  deadly  shots  were  fired. 
Tarleton's  veteran  cavalry  again  fled, 
followed  by  a  partly  exultant  and  partly 
jeering  shout  from  the  Whig  soldiery. 

The  horse  of  a  trooper  who  had  been 
wounded  became  unmanageable,  and  gal 
loped  towards  our  friends.  When  but  a 
short  distance  away  the  rider  fell  off  and 
lay  helpless  in  the  street,  his  sabre  drop 
ping  from  his  nerveless  grasp.  Lightly 
as  a  deer  Burton  bounded  over  the  fence, 
unbuckled  the  belt  and  scabbard  from  the 
prostrate  form,  and,  seizing  the  sabre, 
rushed  back,  regaining  shelter  at  the  side 
of  Angus  in  safety,  although  grazed  by 
more  than  one  bullet  from  the  British 
infantry. 

"  That  was  rash,  Burton,"  said  Angus, 
reproachfully. 

"  Shut  up,  brother  Gus,  and  stand  still 
while  I  buckle  on  this  sabre,"  was  the 
laughing  reply.  "  Now,  we've  only  to 
capture  a  pair  of  pistols,  and  you  are  as 
well  armed  as  I  am." 


CHAPTER  II. 

AN     HEROIC     DEED. 

British  infantry  were  not  at  all 
1  discouraged  by  the  second  repulse 
of  the  cavalry.  Indeed,  it  was  known  by 
all  parties  that  the  conflict  was  an  utterly 
unequal  one,  and  must  eventually  end  in 
the  retreat  of  the  small  Whig  force  before 
the  British  army.  It  was  a  matter  of 
enraged  surprise  on  one  side  and  wonder 
ing  exultation  on  the  other  that  the  con 
flict  had  been  maintained  so  long  and 
with  such  unexpected  results.  The 
English  infantry  determined  to  decide 
the  battle,  which  was  so  humiliating  to 
them,  and  made  another  forward  rush  on 
Graham's  men  on  the  right.  These  again 
gave  way  after  fighting  bravely ;  and 
Davie,  at  the  court-house,  found  that  he 
was  being  flanked;  a  condition  of  affairs 
which  a  good  soldier  never  permits  if  he 


32  AN  HEROIC  DEED. 

can  help  it.  Therefore,  above  the  rattle 
of  musketry,  was  heard  a  shrill  bugle 
sounding  "retreat." 

But  retreat  did  not  mean  flight.  It  was 
only  a  hasty  rush  of  all  the  dismounted 
men  for  their  horses,  while  those  who  had 
no  mount  followed  more  slowly,  keeping 
the  enemy  in  check.  Burton,  Angus  and 
George  Graham  found  both  their  horses 
and  young  Zach  Wilson  equally  impa 
tient.  The  latter  had  been  chafing  at  the 
inactive  duty  assigned  to  him,  but  had 
been  faithful  to  this  duty  in  spite  of  the 
exciting  and  terrible  sounds  of  battle.  He 
was  speedily  delighted  to  find  that  Da- 
vie  and  Graham  were  preparing  for  an 
other  conflict  rather  than  for  a  hasty 
retirement.  A  line  was  formed  on  high 
ground  in  partial  shelter  east  of  the  village. 
The  dismounted  Whigs  were  allowed 
to  pass  through  and  seek  cover  in  the 
forest  beyond,  from  which  they  made 
their  way  to  their  homes,  or  to  some  place 
of  shelter  and  concealment.  Their  com 
rades,  now  that  they  were  in  the  saddle, 
felt  redoubled  confidence  in  awaiting  an- 


AN  HEROIC  DEED.  33 

other  attack  from  the  enemy.  It  soon 
came.  Cornwallis  himself  rode  up  to  his 
twice-defeated  cavalry,  and  while  he 
chided  them,  he  also  inspired  by  remind 
ing  them  of  the  reputation  won  on  other 
fields.  Again  they  advanced  to  the 
charge,  but  in  this  instance  kept  abreast 
of  the  still  advancing  infantry.  Davie's 
and  Graham's  men  coolly  sat  still  on  their 
horses  until  the  command  "  Fire ! "  ran 
down  the  line.  Again  the  bullets  sped 
like  a  scorching,  withering  flame,  and 
the  whole  British  line  was  thrown  into  a 
confusion,  which  might  have  easily  been 
developed  into  a  rout  were  it  not  for  the 
heavy  supports  which  were  now  coming 
up. 

Colonel  Davie's  experienced  eye  saw 
that  the  time  for  final  retreat  had  now 
come.  Before  the  enemy  could  rally 
from  the  stunning  effects  of  this  third  re 
pulse,  he  drew  off  his  men  and  retired 
rapidly  by  the  great  Salisbury  Road. 
Major  Graham,  whose  small  force  was 
made  up  chiefly  from  the  neighborhood, 
was  ordered  to  cover  this  retreat  as  far  as 


34  AN  HEROIC  DEED. 

possible,  and  so  began  a  running  fight 
which,  with  occasional  respites,  did  not 
end  until  the  next  day. 

George  Graham  acted  as  his  brother's 
aid,  and  Burton  and  Angus  aimed  to  keep 
as  near  the  major  as  they  could  during  the 
next  eventful  hours.  The  gallant  young 
officer  had  won  their  unbounded  admira 
tion,  and  they  felt  that  under  his  immediate 
eyes  and  direction  they  could  do  the  most 
effective  service,  while  at  the  same  time 
learning  a  soldier's  duty  from  a  master. 
Little  was  left  for  them  during  the  re 
mainder  of  the  night  beyond  the  tactics 
of  the  Indians.  They  knew  the  by-paths, 
the  cross-roads,  the  positions  of  natural 
strength,  where  one  man  was  worth  a 
dozen  in  the  hilly,  wooded  region  through 
which  passed  the  main  highway.  Skirting 
this,  they  kept  in  deep  shadows,  and  from 
behind  tree,  bush,  and  rock,  their  rifles 
flashed  out.  If  the  enemy  made  a  rush 
toward  the  spot,  they  were  not  there. 
Like  swift  shadows,  they  had  sped  on 
through  the  dusky  forest,  found  time  to 
load  again,  and  choose  some  other  cover 


AN  HEROIC  DEED.  35 

with  a  path  of  retreat  leading  from  it. 
Then  as  the  stubborn  enemy  approached, 
they  would  blaze  away  and  be  off.  Thus 
their  British  pursuers  were  harassed  in 
front  and  on  both  flanks,  and  their  march 
was  impeded.  Their  cavalry  made  dashes 
here  and  there,  only  to  be  entangled  in 
what  seemed  an  empty  wilderness.  Fi 
nally,  there  appeared  to  be  no  other  re 
source  than  for  the  infantry  to  advance  as 
rapidly  as  possible,  with  flankers  in  the 
woods  on  each  side  of  the  road,  and  so  to 
drive  the  stinging,  wasp-like  partisans  be 
fore  them.  This  from  superiority  in  num 
bers  they  could  easily  do,  but  only  at  a 
constant  loss  and  annoyance. 

They  had  skirmished  up  a  long  hill  to 
its  very  brow,  and  then  Major  Graham 
ordered  his  bugler  to  sound  swift  retreat. 
George,  with  a  small  detachment,  in 
which  were  our  friends,  was  posted  here, 
with  orders  to  wait  the  near  approach  of 
the  enemy,  to  give  them  a  volley,  then  to 
strike  directly  into  the  woods  and  let  his 
men  make  their  way  singly  or  by  twos 
and  threes  to  the  brow  of  the  next  hill. 


36  AN  HEROIC  DEED. 

The  major,  having  given  his  instructions, 
galloped  away  after  the  rest  of  his 
force. 

Angus  and  Burton  determined  to  keep 
together,  and,  after  delivering  their  fire, 
to  escape  by  an  obscure  path  which  they 
had  discovered  leading  to  the  right  from 
the  highway. 

The  British,  hearing  the  bugle  recall, 
and  respited  from  the  dropping,  galling 
fire  which  had  thus  far  attacked  their 
advance,  came  on  rapidly.  George  Gra 
ham  held  his  dogs  of  war  in  leash  too 
,long  perhaps.  They  gave  their  volley 
and  it  was  effective,  and  at  the  same  time 
it  revealed  but  a  small  and  concentrated 
force.  So  far  from  checking  the  deeply 
incensed  enemy,  they  came  on  with  a  rush, 
in  the  hope  of  at  last  striking  those  who 
had  so  long  punished  them.  The  Whig 
partisans  scattered,  but  pursuers  were  on 
their  heels.  Angus  led  the  way  through 
the  path  that  had  been  decided  upon,  and 
Burton  and  George  Graham  followed. 
Although  they  tried  to  spur  forward  at 
reckless  speed,  the  roughness  and  obscur- 


AN  HEROIC  DEED.  37 

ity  of  the  path  enabled  vindictive  enemies 
to  gain  upon  them. 

"  Dismount,  turn  the  horses  loose  and 
switch  them  with  a  gad.  We  must  take 
to  the  bush  on  foot,"  said  George  rapidly, 
setting  the  example  by  his  own  action. 
The  horses  plunged  forward  down  the 
side  of  the  hill ;  the  three  friends  had 
scarcely  time  to  creep  into  a  thicket 
before  half  a  dozen  British  soldiers  went 
running  and  stumbling  by.  Then  one  of 
them  caught  a  glimpse  of  a  horse  and 
fired.  A  neigh  of  pain  showed  that  the 
poor  animal  was  hit,  and  the  pursuit  was 
pressed  more  hotly. 

A  moment  later  George  whispered, 
"  Creep,  crawl,  snake  away.  Now's  our 
chance.  There'll  be  more  here  soon." 

His  words  were  true  enough.  The  shot 
Drought  a  dozen  more  down  the  path,  but 
the  young  partisans  had  been  hunters 
•before  they  became  soldiers,  and  now 
they  crept  away  almost  from  under  the 
feet  of  their  enemies,  who,  intent  upon 
the  pursuit  of  riderless  horses,  passed 
noisily  by.  At  last  the  boys  ventured  to 


38  AN  HEROIC  DEED. 

stand  erect  and  dodge  from  tree  to  tree 
and  bush,  to  bush  until  they  felt  sufficiently 
secure  to  stop  and  reload  their  rifles. 

"  We're  in  a  nice  scrape  now,"  said 
Burton.  "  I  feel  a  good  deal  like  a 
landed  fish  without  my  horse." 

"  We  were  in  a  worse  scrape  a  few 
minutes  ago,"  replied  George,  coolly. 
"  We  can't  do  any  good  by  taking  risks 
here  any  longer.  The  major  says,  '  A 
man's  a  fool  who  takes  useless  risks.' 
Our  course  is  to  work  far  enough  to  the 
right  to  make  sure  we  are  beyond  those 
fellows  after  our  horses  and  see  if  there's 
any  chance  of  our  catching  'em  again. 
If  there  isn't,  we  must  not  lose  a  minute 
in  reaching  yonder  hill-top,  where  the 
major's  going  to  set  an  ambush." 

"George  is  right,"  said  Angus.  "If 
we  are  cut  off  from  the  main  body  there 
won't  be  much  chance  for  us  after  day 
light  without  our  horses.  Tired  as  we 
already  are,  the  enemy  would  soon  run  us 
down  if  they  caught  sight  of  us." 

In  obedience  to  this  view  they  had 
struck  out  stealthily  and  rapidly  on  the 


AN  HEROIC  DEED.  39 

right  of  those  that  had  followed  them. 
It  had  been  discovered  that  the  horses 
were  riderless,  and  the  pursuers  were 
spreading  out  fan-fashion  and  beating 
the  woods  in  the  hope  of  capturing  the 
dismounted  men. 

"  We'd  have  been  nabbed  if  we  had 
stayed  in  that  thicket,"  George  whis 
pered.  "  How  I'd  like  to  give  the  villains 
another  shot !  It  would  do  us  more  harm 
than  it  would  them,  so  let's  push  on." 

This  they  did  a  few  moments  longer, 
leaving,  as  they  supposed,  their  enemies 
behind  them.  Suddenly  Burton,  who  was 
now  in  advance,  whispered,  "  Hush ! 
"  Down  behind  this  rock." 

Three  of  the  British  soldiers  had  been 
lured  on  by  the  tired  horses  and  had 
eventually  caught  them.  They  were  now 
leading  them  almost  directly  towards  their 
actual  masters. 

"  I  take  command,"  whispered  George. 
"  You  two  follow  me,"  and  he  crept  a 
little  nearer  the  course  of  the  approach 
ing  foes. 

"Well,"  said  the  foremost  man,  "this 


40  AN  HEROIC  DEED. 

be  better  luck  than  capturin'  the  blasted 
rebels.  When  we  get  hout  of  this  'anged 
woods  we'll  be'oss  sogers  for  the  whiles." 

"  Surrender  !  Speak  or  move  and  you're 
dead,"  threatened  George,  and  the  startled 
Englishman  found  a  rifle  muzzle  between 
his  eyes. 

Burton  and  Angus  had  followed 
George's  example,  and  all  three  of  the 
enemy  stood  speechless  and  paralyzed. 
George  resumed  in  the  same  penetrating 
whisper,  "  If  you  want  to  save  your  lives, 
all  three  do  as  1  order.  First  drop  your 
muskets."  They  obey. 

"  Now  hold  up  your  hands  and  range 
yourselves  close  facing  me.  Angus, 
you  take  the  horses."  The  prisoners 
complying,  George  continued,  "  Burton, 
you  search  them  for  concealed  weapons 
and  any  thing  useful  to  us.  I,  meanwhile, 
will  cover  them  with  my  rifle  and  shoot 
the  first  man  that  moves."  Burton  was 
expeditious,  and  then  George  gave  his 
final  order,  "  Angus,  mount  and  lead  as 
rapidly  as  possible.  The  prisoners  will 
follow  at  your  horse's  heels,  and  I  will 


AN  HEROIC  DEED.  4* 

tread  upon  theirs,  pistol  in  hand.  Mark 
you,  fellows,  if  you  try  to  get  away  or  to 
attract  your  friends,  you  get  a  bullet 
instantly.  Burton,  you  bring  up  the  rear 
with  the  spoils,  which  you  can  drop  if  we 
have  to  fight.  Forward,  march  ! " 

As  rapidly  as  the  broken,  wooded 
region  permitted,  they  made  their  way  to 
the  brow  of  the  next  hill,  keeping  a  wide 
interval  between  themselves  and  the  high 
road.  As  they  approached  the  hill-top 
there  was  a  loud  crash  of  musketry, 
which  can  readily  be  explained.  Major 
Graham  knew  of  the  natural  facilities 
afforded  by  the  place  for  an  ambuscade, 
also  of  a  wood-road  near,  which  led  to  a 
distant  plantation.  He  had  resolved  to 
make  a  sharp  fight  at  this  spot,  and  then 
gallop  away  to  the  farm,  which  was  owned 
by  a  friend  to  the  cause,  and  there  give 
his  men  and  horses  food  and  a  little  rest. 
The  Britwh.  alter  their  last  punishment, 
had  followed  slowly  and  warily,  fearing 
a  like  experience  again.  When  they  had 
marched  almost  a  mile  without  being 
molested,  they  had  about  concluded  that 


42  AN  HEROIC  DEED. 

their  enemies  had  retired  finally,  in  order 
to  reach  some  place  of  concealment  before 
daylight,  which  now  was  near.  It  was 
argued  that  the  small  squad  which  had 
fired  upon  them  last  had  been  left  to 
check  their  advance  and  give  the  rest 
of  the  partisans  time  to  get  away  ;  there 
fore,  the  British  officers  began  to  lead 
their  men  more  rapidly  and  carelessly, 
hoping  before  long  that  they  could  cap 
ture  a  breakfast,  if  not  their  enemies. 
The  road  near  the  brow  of  the  hill  passed 
through  a  narrow  little  ravine  with  steep 
wooded  banks  which  gave  the  flankers 
scarcely  any  footing.  As  the  place  looked 
suspicious,  the  English  officer  in  com 
mand  ordered  a  few  of  the  cavalry  to  go 
forward  and  reconnoitre.  They  rode 
through  to  the  very  brow  of  the  hill, 
returned  and  reported  the  place  deserted. 
So  it  was.  with  the  exceDtion  of  three  or 
four  scouts  Tying  prone  on  tfie  ground 
along  the  right  of  the  ravine,  within  easy 
rifle  range  of  the  road.  When  the  Brit 
ish  moved  forward  and  were  under  their 
guns  the  scouts  gave  low  whistles.  A 


AN  HEROIC  DEED.  43 

line  of  men  some  distance  in  the  rear, 
rose,  moved  forward  and  fired  a  volley 
into  the  crowded  road.  Yells,  groans, 
orders,  futile  shots  were  the  reply,  but  the 
immediate  and  temporary  result  was  that 
the  British  column  fell  back  in  confusion. 
Graham  and  his  followers  in  the  mean 
time  darted  off  under  the  cover  of  the 
smoke  of  their  rifles  to  the  spot  where 
their  horses  were  held  by  men  detailed 
for  the  purpose,  and  were  about  to  gallop 
away,  when  George,  Burton,  and  Angus 
brought  in  their  three  prisoners  on  the 
run.  The  cheers  with  which  they  were 
greeted  were  speedily  checked.  The 
boyish-looking  major  merely  shook  his 
brother's  hand,  nodded  and  smiled  at  his 
companions,  then  ordered,  "  Mount  the 
prisoners  behind  three  of  our  men. 
Forward,  march ! "  and  away  he  went 
down  the  wood-road  at  a  gallop.  In  an 
hour  they  reached  the  plantation  ;  a 
sentence  explained  their  need  to  the 
owner;  the  horses  were  instantly  unbit- 
ted,  fed  and  rubbed  down.  A  beef  was 
killed,  skinned,  quartered,  cut  up,  and 


44  AN  HEROIC  DEED. 

placed  over  fires  with  a  celerity  of  which 
no  one  but  a  cavalryman  can  have 
any  idea.  Fragrance  from  many  coffee 
pots  was  soon  upon  the  breeze  also, 
while,  at  the  house,  all  the  appliances  of 
the  kitchen  were  taxed  to  provide  for  the 
officers.  The  men  jested  and  laughed  as 
they  flew  about  in  their  preparations,  for 
they  were  exultant  over  the  events  of 
the  night.  Day,  however,  was  breaking 
broadly,  and  all  knew  that  their  respite 
might  be  brief  indeed.  So  it  proved. 

As  they  had  approached  the  plantation 
the  major  had  said  to  his  brother  and  his 
companions,  *  I  shall  give  you  a  soldier's 
reward  for  your  good  behavior.  Conceal 
yourselves  on  this  road,  fire  a  shot  if  the 
enemy  approaches,  and  gallop  in.  I  will 
send  you  some  breakfast  as  soon  as  it  is 
ready.  I  entrust  myself  and  men  to  your 
vigilance." 

Again  Burton  laughed  grimly  when 
they  were  left  alone,  and  said,  "  A  great 
honor,  surely,  but  it  doesn't  fill  an  empty 
stomach.  How  do  you  like  soldiering, 
Gus  ?  " 


AN  HEROIC  DEED.  45 

*'  It's  not  a  question  of  like  or  dislike. 
I  reckon,  though,  that  I  never  felt  so 
tired  and  hungry  before.  I  fear  mother'll 
be  half  beside  herself  about  us." 

"  I  foresee,"  continued  Burton,  "  that 
our  friends  will  have  to  get  used  to  all 
sorts  of  irregularity  in  our  coming  and 
going.  What  we'll  do  and  where  we'll 
be  will  depend  more  on  the  enemy  than 
upon  ourselves." 

"  One  thing  is  already  certain,"  added 
George,  "  we  shall  have  to  sleep  as  often 
in  the  woods  as  in  our  beds.  You  two 
stay  here  and  I'll  go  a  hundred  yards 
down  the  road  nearer  the  enemy.  My 
horse  is  in  the  best  condition,  while  yours, 
Angus,  has  bled  so  much  that  you  must 
try  to  pick  up  another  beast  as  soon  as 
you  can.  Ride  him  up  and  down  before 
me  a  bit." 

Angus  did  so,  and  with  every  step  the 
blood  oozed  from  a  wound  in  one  of  the 
poor  animal's  haunches.  George  wrote 
a  few  lines  in  a  little  note-book,  tore  out 
the  sheet,  and  said,  "  Take  that  to  my 
brother." 


46  A  A    HEROIC  D&ED. 

"  But,  George,"  protested  the  boy,  "the 
major  told  me — " 

"  Obey  orders,"  said  George,  sternly. 
"  You  are  under  my  command  now.  The 
line  I've  written  will  make  every  thing 
right.  Report  to  my  brother  as  soon  as 
possible." 

Angus  yielded  reluctantly.  When  he 
had  gone,  Burton  asked,  "  What  did  you 
write?" 

"  I  told  Joe  that  Gus's  horse  was 
wounded,  and  that  if  the  enemy  came 
with  a  rush,  as  they  probably  will,  we 
might  lose  one  of  the  finest  and  most 
promising  young  fellows  in  the  country. 
He's  younger  than  either  of  us,  but  we 
shall  have  to  look  to  ourselves  or  he'll 
make  the  best  soldier.  Screen  yourself 
behind  this  low  pine  and  be  all  eyes  and 
ears.  I'll  go  back  on  the  road  as  I  said," 
and  they  separated. 

For  nearly  half  an  hour  all  remained 
quiet,  and  then  a  man  came  galloping 
down  the  road  from  the  plantation  with 
a  pot  of  coffee  and  some  hoe-cake.  Never 
was  meagre  breakfast  more  welcome  than 


AN  HEROIC  DEED.  47 

this  slight  repast  to  the  young  videttes, 
who  nevertheless  did  not  relax  their  vig 
ilance.  Again  they  were  left  alone,  and 
for  a  time  nothing  disturbed  the  morning 
quiet  along  the  road  except  the  barking 
of  squirrels  in  the  hickories.  Then  the 
sharp  report  of  George's  rifle  awoke  the 
echoes  far  and  near.  A  second  later  he 
came  galloping  toward  Burton,  sheered 
in  behind  the  pine,  and  said,  "  Ride  to  the 
major  and  say  the  enemy's  coming,  that 
I've  seen  only  infantry  so  far,  and  that 
I'm  going  to  strike  into  the  woods  and 
reconnoitre  further  before  I  come  in." 

Burton  obeyed  instantly,  and  was 
rejoiced  to  see  that  the  partisan  troop 
was  already  saddling  up  as  he  approached. 
Major  Graham  heard  the  report  thought 
fully  and  turned  his  eyes  on  his  refreshed 
and  inspirited  men,  who,  without  waiting 
for  the  bugle-call,  were  trotting  sharply 
forward  to  the  open  space  in  front  of  the 
house.  Turning  to  two  or  three  of  his 
officers,  he  said,  "  George  has  seen  only 
infantry.  If  they  have  no  cavalry  with 
them,  I'd  like  to  give  'em  another  brush. 


48  AN  HEROIC  DEED. 

We  could  ride  away  from  them  when 
pressed." 

"  Let  us  sting  'em  a  little,  any  way," 
cried  Colonel  Frank  Locke,  who,  waiving 
his  rank  and  the  reputation  won  in  a 
former  battle,  was  now  a  zealous  volun 
teer  under  Graham. 

A  low  bugle-call  hastened  the  fast  as 
sembling  troopers,  and  another  distant 
shot  was  heard  from  the  woods  in  the 
direction  of  the  enemy.  Soon  after  a 
horseman  appeared  and  rode  rapidly 
across  the  fields. 

"  It's  George,"  said  the  major,  riding 
forward  to  meet  him.  The  brothers  con 
ferred  a  few  moments,  and  then  the 
major,  returning  to  his  men,  gave  a  few 
rapid  orders,  and  the  whole  troop  trotted 
off  towards  a  valley,  which  could  be  fol 
lowed  back  into  the  woods  again. 

Angus  had  been  kindly  received,  and 
the  owner  of  the  plantation,  at  the  sug 
gestion  of  the  major,  had  furnished  an 
other  horse,  telling  the  boy  that  he  could 
pay  when  he  could,  if  ever,  adding,  "  If 
you  don't  take  him,  the  British  will." 


AN'  HEROIC  DEED.  49 

Therefore  the  lad  was  enabled  to  rejoin 
his  friends,  and,  with  George  and  Bur 
ton,  rode  near  the  major. 

"  Why  haven't  the  Britishers  come  on 
faster,  George?"  Burton  asked. 

"  I  played  a  trick  on  'em.  When  I  left 
you  and  struck  into  the  wood,  I  let  the 
enemy's  advance  pass  by  me  for  some 
distance,  and  then  fired  a  shot  into  their 
flank.  That  brought  them  to  a  halt  in 
stantly.  I've  no  doubt  they  thought  the 
woods  were  full  of  us,  and  so  they  soon 
will  be." 

The  command  had  now  followed  up 
the  ravine  so  far  as  to  approach  the  for 
est.  "George,"  said  the  major,  "pick 
out  a  dozen  active  fellows,  scout  ahead  of 
us  and  locate  the  enemy's  position. 
Meanwhile,  I'll  move  to  the  left  along 
the  edge  of  the  woods  towards  the  road." 

George  delighted  in  such  dangerous 
and  exciting  service,  and  Burton  and  An 
gus  were  among  the  first  that  he  selected 
to  accompany  him.  Hastening  forward 
with  his  little  band,  he  directed  that 
two  should  keep  together,  and  that  they 


50  AN  HEROIC  DEED. 

should  then  spread  out  so  as  to  cover  a 
wide  area  and  yet  keep  within  hailing  dis 
tance  of  each  other.  Thus,  in  their  ad 
vance,  they  were  like  feelers  for  the  main 
body,  protecting  it  against  surprise.  The 
eyes  of  every  scout  was  another  pair  of 
eyes  to  the  major,  for  all  that  was  seen 
would  be  reported  to  him.  Since  Angus 
was  now  mounted  on  afresh  horse,  George 
kept  the  boy  near  him,  to  be  employed  as 
a  trusty  messenger  to  his  brother.  He 
had  given  to  his  men  a  few  signals :  One 
whistle  signified  to  continue  advancing ; 
two  whistles  to  halt ;  three  for  one  man 
to  dismount  and  advance  stealthily  on 
foot  while  his  comrade  held  his  horse ; 
four  ordered  a  retreat,  and  one  long 
whistle  meant  fire. 

Away  they  went  through  the  woods, 
covering  the  van  and  right  flank  of  Major 
Graham's  advance.  They  had  not  gone 
very  far  before  two  whistles  brought  every 
horse  and  rider  to  a  halt. 

"  Hold  my  horse,  Gus,"  said  George, 
leaping  down.  "  I've  caught  a  glimpse 
of  a  red  coat,"  and  he  darted  forward  from 


AN  HEROIC  DEED.  51 

tree  to  tree  with  the  swift  yet  cautious 
movement  of  an  Indian.  He  soon  per 
ceived  that  numbers  of  the  enemy  were 
apparently  returning  from  an  unsuccess 
ful  beating  of  the  woods,  and,  believing 
that  with  the  clue  he  had  obtained,  his 
eyes  would  be  worth  more  than  a  dozen, 
he  left  his  men  standing  where  his  last 
order  detained  them,  and  continued  to 
creep  toward  his  foes,  who  were  rejoining 
the  main  body  in  the  road.  And  so  he 
disappeared  from  the  vision  of  Angus, who, 
nevertheless,  was  straining  his  eyes  on 
the  spot  where  his  young  leader  was  last 
seen,  and  concentrating  all  his  faculties 
to  catch  some  indication  of  his  return. 
Before  many  moments  passed  the  boy 
was  taught  the  lesson  that,  in  such  war 
fare,  a  soldier's  watchfulness  can  be  too 
concentrated.  A  voice  said,  almost  in  his 
ear,  "  Surrender,  and  keep  silent."  Turn 
ing  with  a  violent  start  he  saw  a  young 
British  ensign  leveling  a  pistol  at  him, 
while  a  burly  red-coated  infantryman 
threatened  him  with  his  bayonet. 

In  the  confused,  awful    moment    that 


52  AN  HEROIC  DEED. 

followed  but  one  thing  was  clear — he 
must  warn  George  and  the  others  at  every 
cost  to  himself.  He  gasped  the  word 
"mother,"  tumbled  off  his  horse,  away 
from  the  bayonet  point,  and  gave  four 
shrill  whistles,  which  meant  "  retreat." 


CHAPTER  III. 

HEADLONG     FLIGHT. 

THE  course  of  Angus  was  unexpected 
and  significant,  his  signals  revealing 
to  the  British  officer  that  others  were  near. 
"  Don't  fire,"  he  exclaimed  to  the  soldier 
with  him.  "  Disarm  the  boy,  bayonet 
him  if  he  resists,  then  mount  and  follow." 
The  infantryman,  as  we  learned  in  a 
previous  chapter,  had  advanced  the  point 
of  his  weapon  to  the  throat  of  Angus,  who 
had  thrown  himself  off  his  horse  to  escape 
the  thrust,  and  so  gain  time  to  give  the 
four  whistles  which  would  bring  George 
back  and  put  him  on  his  guard.  Before 
the  boy  could  gather  himself  up  from 
his  fall,  the  soldier  was  again  almost 
upon  him  with  his  gleaming  bayonet,  in 
tending  first  to  kill  and  then  disarm  him. 
Spurred  by  the  powerful  instinct  to  shun 
death,  Angus  darted  under  the  horse's 


54  HEADLONG  FLIGHT. 

body,  seizing  in  his  half-conscious,  des 
perate  effort  for  self-preservation  the  legs 
of  the  officer,  who  was  preparing  to  mount, 
and  jerking  with  such  violence  as  to  throw 
their  owner  upon  his  back.  Bouncing  upon 
him  like  a  young  panther,  the  boy  drew 
the  officer's  pistol  from  his  belt,  then 
turned  and  fired  almost  into  the  face  of 
the  pursuing  soldier.  The  man  dropped 
dead  across  the  body  of  the  struggling 
officer  and  bore  him  to  the  earth  again. 
Panting  and  actually  crying  from  excite 
ment  and  horror  at  the  tragedy,  Angus 
nevertheless  through  all  the  terrible  or 
deal  held  fast  to  the  principle  of  duty. 
Snatching  up  the  soldier's  musket,  he 
shouted  to  the  officer:  "Lie  still,  or  I'll 
pin  you  to  the  ground  ; "  then  sent  out  an 
agonizing  cry  :  "  George  !  Burton  !" 

All  had  taken  place  in  far  briefer  time 
than  has  been  required  in  relating  the 
events.  The  shot  had  brought  Burton 
galloping  back.  He  had  been  on  the 
right  of  the  scouting  line  and  not  very 
far  off.  In  obedience  to  the  signal  he 
had  retreated  slowly  and  reluctantly,  but 


HEADLONG  FLIGHT.  55 

after  the  report  of  the  pistol  fired  by 
Angus,  he  had  no  other  thought  than 
that  of  reaching  his  leader  and  the  boy 
he  loved.  George  had  been  startled  and 
perplexed  at  the  four  whistles  given  by 
other  lips  than  his  own.  Believing  that 
there  must  be  good  reason  for  them,  he 
began  to  retrace  his  steps  cautiously,  for 
he  had  crept  very  near  to  the  enemy. 
The  shot,  however,  which  came  an  in 
stant  later,  gave  wings  to  his  feet,  and  he 
and  Burton  met  at  almost  the  same  mo 
ment. 

They  were  too  much  astonished  for  a 
moment  to  speak,  as  they  witnessed  the 
scene  before  them — the  horses  gone,  a 
British  officer  on  his  back  with  a  dead 
soldier  lying  across  him,  and  Angus  sob 
bing,  yet  ready  to  use  the  bayonet  should 
there  be  need. 

"  What  on  earth  does  all  this  mean, 
Gus?"  cried  George. 

"  Take  the  musket — quick,  I'm  sick," 
was  the  boy's  reply. 

Burton  caught  him  as  he  almost  fainted 
in  the  violent  reaction  which  followed  a 


56  HEADLONG  FLIGHT. 

sense  of  security  and  the  presence  of 
those  for  whom  he  had  virtually  offered 
his  life. 

"  Gus,  dear  Gus,  are  you  wounded?" 
Burton  asked  in  tones  of  deep  distress, 
supporting  the  lad  to  a  fallen  tree. 

"  I  don't  know,"  gasped  the  boy ; 
"  reckon  not ;  I  ain't  used  to  such 
things." 

Others  of  the  scouting  force  now  came 
galloping  forward,  and  George  shouted, 
"  Two  catch  our  horses  and  the  rest 
cover  our  retreat.  You,  Zach  Wilson, 
stay  and  help  us."  He  then  tossed  the 
dead  soldier  to  one  side  and  said  to  the 
officer :  "  Rise,  if  you  can.  You  are  a 
prisoner." 

"  I  suppose  I  must  yield,"  said  the  en 
sign,  with  a  crimson  face,  "  but  I'd  rather 
you  would  shoot  and  leave  me  here.  To 
be  captured  as  I've  been " 

"  No  matter,  you  are  captured.  Ha  ! 
there  come  your  friends,  who  may  soon 
turn  the  tables.  Forward  here.  Each 
take  a  tree  and  drop  the  first  red-coat 
that  shows  himself.  Retire  obliquely  to 


HEADLONG  FLIGHT^  57 

the  left  on  the  main  body.  Zach,  take 
the  prisoner  on  a  run  to  the  major,  who'll 
have  some  questions  to  ask  him.  Mount, 
Burton,  I'll  put  Gus  up  behind  you.  Go 
with  Zach  and  the  prisoner  and  report. 
Take  the  ensign's  sword  and  pistols  with 
you  ;  they  belong  to  Gus.  No  time  now 
for  explanations.  Ah !  there  comes  my 
horse.  There's  nothing  for  us  now  but 
to  retire  skirmishing." 

The  British  infantry  advanced  rapidly, 
believing  that  they  had  at  last  found  the 
enemy  whom  they  had  been  seeking.  In 
the  dead  soldier  they  recognized  one  of 
their  scouts  sent  out  to  beat  the  woods, 
and  the  capture  of  the  officer  was  readily 
surmised. 

Speedily  satisfied  that  an  overwhelm 
ing  force  was  approaching,  George  gave 
in  his  turn  four  whistles,  and  with  all  his 
men  retreated  rapidly  to  the  main  body. 

Angus's  horse  had  been  intercepted, 
so  the  boy,  now  mounted  again  and 
deeply  mortified  at  his  emotion  and  faint- 
ness,  began  telling  the  major  what  had 
happened,  in  a  shame-faced  way.  The 


58  HEADLONG  FLIGHT. 

captured  officer,  still  more  embarrassed, 
stood  near,  while  several  smiling  veterans 
looked  on  and  listened.  Poor  Angus 
hoped  for  nothing  better  than  a  few  re 
assuring  words  to  the  effect  that  he  would 
eventually  get  over  his  qualms  and  obtain 
steadier  nerves,  when  to  his  unbounded 
surprise  Graham  took  him  by  the  hand 
and  said  warmly  : 

"  I  congratulate  you,  sir.  You  are  but 
a  boy  in  years,  but  no  man  ever  did  a 
braver  thing  than  you  did  in  giving  those 
signals.  You  have  probably  saved  my 
brother's  life,  and  have  certainly  rendered 
us  all  a  great  service.  If  George  had  been 
captured,  we  might  have  been  surprised. 
I  promote  you  on  the  spot  to  the  rank  of 
the  officer  you  captured,  and  guarantee 
that  the  governor  will  confirm  my  action. 
Act  as  my  aid  for  the  present.  Ha ! 
George,  what's  your  report  ?  " 

"The  enemy  are  coming  through  the 
woods,  first  a  heavy  skirmish  line,  and 
then  a  force  that  we  can't  cope  with." 

"  We'll  give  them  a  volley  before  we 
retire.  Judging  by  young  Mclntire  here, 


HEADLONG  FLIGHT.  5 9 

each  one  of  us  is  good  for  two.  Gentle 
men,"  to  his  officers,  "  lead  your  men  for 
ward  into  the  woods  a  short  distance ;  keep 
them  in  order  as  far  as  possible.  Fire 
deliberately,  and  retire  rapidly  when  the 
bugle  sounds  retreat." 

These  orders  were  carried  out,  but  the 
British,  so  far  from  being  checked,  rushed 
forward  savagely,  and  Graham  saw  that, 
with  his  inadequate  force,  it  was  time  he 
retired  to  some  place  of  safety,  for  both 
his  men  and  horses  would  soon  be  in 
sore  need  of  more  extended  rest  and 
refreshment.  Accordingly,  he  led  his 
men  rapidly  towards  the  road,  passing  for 
several  miles  over  high  ground  which 
would  give  views  of  the  surrounding" 
country. 

Angus  rejoiced  in  the  fact  that  every 
step  taken  brought  him  nearer  home  ; 
and  it  must  be  admitted  that  by  this  time 
he  was  homesick  indeed.  He  knew  that 
his  mother  would  hear  exaggerated  ac 
counts  of  the  fight  at  Charlotte  the  night 
before,  and  that  her  anxiety  would  be 
beyond  description.  While  the  major's 


60  HEADLONG  FLIGHT. 

words  and  his  promotion  had  heartened 
him  not  a  little,  he  was  almost  mortally 
weary  and  painfully  oppressed  by  the 
scenes  he  had  passed  through.  His 
nerves  were  becoming  unstrung  and  him 
self  a  prey  to  morbid  fancies,  which  are 
often  hard  to  combat  in  times  of  great 
physical  depression.  War  was  far  more 
terrible  than  he  had  ever  imagined  it  to 
be.  He  had  not  dreamt  of  passing 
through  such  experiences  when  he  had 
ridden  away  in  the  sunny  noon  of  the 
previous  day.  Expecting  merely  to 
gather  the  news,  possibly  to  fire  a  few 
shots  at  long  range  from  behind  good 
cover,  he  had,  on  the  contrary,  found 
himself  drawn  into  a  whirlpool  of  strife 
and  compelled  to  face  emergencies  calcu 
lated  to  shake  the  nerves  of  a  veteran. 
He  could  not  get  over  the  terrible  awe 
inspired  by  the  fact  that  he  had  faced 
death  himself,  and,  what  was  worse,  that 
he  had  inflicted  death. 

Burton  was  older  and  took  things  more 
lightly  than  Angus.  Perhaps,  also,  he 
was  not  capable  of  receiving  such  deep 


HEADLONG  FLIGHT.  6 1 

impressions  as  his  young  comrade,  and, 
moreover,  his  experience  had  not  been  so 
tragic.  He  generously  exaggerated  all 
the  major's  praise,  and  even  made  the  boy 
laugh,  as  they  pursued  their  march,  by  a 
comical  picture  of  the  scene.  "  Tell  you 
what  'tis,  Gus,  when  you  upset  that  British 
officer,  you  stuck  a  taller  feather  in  your 
cap  than  any  of  the  rest  of  us  young  fel 
lows  will  ever  obtain.  How  Ella  will 
crow  over  you  and  your  trophies  !  You 
have  a  pair  of  pistols  that  any  one  might 
be  proud  of,  and  the  ensign's  sword  is 
much  more  suited  to  your  hand  than  the 
big  sabre  I  picked  up  for  you  last  night." 
"  There'll  be  too  much  cooing  when 
you  two  meet  to  leave  time  for  crowing," 
said  the  boy.  "  I  own  up  that  the  cavalry 
sabre  that  you  captured  for  me  is  too 
heavy  for  my  use  yet ;  but  I  shall  never 
forget  the  risk  you  took  in  getting  it  for 
me.  I  say,  Burton,  please  don't  tell  'em 
home  how  I  cried  like  a  baby  and  came 
near  fainting.  I  shall  tell  the  major  that 
I'll  try  to  act  as  his  aid  if  he  wants  me  to 
after  I've  seen  'em  all  at  home;  but  I 


62  HEADLONG  FLIGHT. 

won't  be  an  officer,  or  take  command  of 
men.  Confound  it !  something  might 
happen  that  would  make  me  blubber  be 
fore  them  all.  Only  a  man's  fit  to  com 
mand  men." 

"  Don't  you  fret  about  being  a  man. 
Your  gristle  will  harden  mighty  fast  the 
next  few  weeks." 

"  Ah,  Burton,  I  don't  feel  sure  of  seeing 
the  next  few  hours.  See,  there's  a  troop 
of  cavalry  following  us  ! " 

"  Come,  brother  Gus,  you're  tired  to 
death,  and,  therefore,  blue.  All  the  rest 
of  us  know  that  any  one  so  plucky  and 
lucky  is  bound  to  live  through  every 
thing  and  make  a  name.  The  ensign  you 
captured  said  that  Major  Hanger,  who 
commanded  the  cavalry,  was  wounded, 
and  I  believe  it  was  your  shot  that 
knocked  him  over  ;  "  and  so  he  strove  to 
cheer  and  rally  the  boy  into  his  usual 
courage  and  hopefulness. 

The  pursuing  force  of  the  enemy's  cav 
alry  being  small,  Graham  was  induced  by 
his  officers  to  form  his  men  in  line  on  the 
brow  of  a  hill  and  await  an  attack.  The 


HEADLONG  FLIGHT.  63 

action  was  rather  contrary  to  his  judg 
ment,  for  he  believed  that  other  and 
larger  bodies  of  troops  must  be  in  the 
vicinity.  The  foe,  perceiving  his  defen 
sive  attitude,  approached  so  slowly  and 
warily,  and  began  firing  at  such  long 
range,  that  he  was  soon  led  to  suspect 
that  their  attack  was  only  a  feint  to 
detain  him,  and  he  expressed  his  fears  to 
his  officers,  but  they,  for  a  time,  over 
ruled  his  desire  to  continue  the  retreat. 

At  last,  but  all  too  late,  he  resumed  his 
march.  As  his  little  force  approached  a 
cross-road,  they  saw  a  large  body  of  Eng 
lish  troops  riding  rapidly  forward  to 
intercept  them.  Sharp  and  shrill  the 
bugle  sounded,  Forward,  gallop  !  and 
away  they  went,  receiving  shots  in  the 
flank  and  rear  as  they  passed  the  fatal 
point. 

It  now  became  a  question  of  speed  and 
endurance  on  the  part  of  the  horses,  for 
the  pursuing  force  so  far  outnumbered 
the  partisans  as  to  render  resistance 
hopeless.  Unfortunately,  the  vicinity 
was  open  and  the  road  bordered  by  high 


64  HEADLONG  FLIGHT. 

stone  walls,  therefore  there  was  no  chance 
to  distract  the  enemy  by  dispersing  and 
seeking  concealment. 

The  intrepid  Graham  reined  in  his 
horse  and  took  his  place  at  the  rear  of  the 
flying  column,  seeking,  as  was  his  custom, 
the  point  nearest  the  enemy.  His  brother 
George,  Burton,  and  Angus  followed  his 
example  and  kept  near  his  side.  The 
face  of  the  young  major  was  pale  and 
stern,  showing  that  this  headlong  flight 
was  galling  in  the  extreme.  His  hand 
was  often  on  his  sabre  hilt,  as  if  it  were 
hard  for  him  to  resist  the  impulse  to  turn 
upon  the  enemy.  Tears  were  again  in 
Angus's  eyes  ;  and  he  believed  he  must 
die,  for  he  saw  that  the  British  troopers 
were  gaining  upon  them.  With  dogged 
resolution,  however,  he  kept  his  eyes  on 
the  major,  that  he  might  obey  the  least 
sign.  Again  the  supreme  thought  of 
duty,  and  his  purpose  to  do  it,  no  matter 
how  greatly  he  shrunk,  and  trembled, 
stood  him  in  good  stead,  keeping  him  at 
the  post  of  honor  and  danger.  Burton 
was  in  a  rage,  his  hot  blood  chafing  at  the 


HEADL    VG  FLIGHT,  65 

necessity  of  flight.  His  eyes,  however, 
were  often  and  wistfully  turned  upon 
Ella's  brother.  To  cool  George  Graham 
the  affair  was  taking  on  the  aspect  of  a 
problem.  His  gray  eyes  from  time  to 
time  measured  the  distance  that  inter 
vened  between  them  and  their  pursuers, 
and  then  searched  the  road  in  advance 
for  a  piece  of  woods  in  which  they  could 
scatter,  but  only  flying  forms  were  seen 
obscurely  through  clouds  of  dust. 

Nearer  and  nearer  thundered  the  British 
troopers,  their  hoarse  shouts  and  yells 
becoming  every  moment  more  distinct. 

"Joe,  they  are  gaining  on  us,"  said 
George,  quietly. 

"  I  know  it.  I  wouldn't  mind  it  for  my 
self  so  much,  but  I  can't  endure  to  see  my 
men  cut  up.  Save  yourself  any  way  you 
can.  Ah !  they  are  beginning  to  fire  on 
us." 

"  I  say,  Joe,  Gus  Mclntire  has  a  fresher 
horse  than  any  of  us.  Send  him  forward 
with  orders  for  each  man  to  save  himself 
as  best  he  can.  It  will  give  the  boy  a 
chance." 


66  HEADLONG  FLIGHT. 

"  Glad  you  reminded  me.  Ensign 
Mclntire,  ride  swiftly  up  the  line  and  say, 
in  passing,  each  man  for  himself." 

The  boy  spurred  forward,  shouting  the 
order  in  his  terror,  his  fine  fleet  horse 
carrying  him  eventually  to  the  head  of  the 
line.  Hemmed  in  by  fences  as  they  were, 
nothing  yet  was  left  for  the  hard  pressed 
partisans  but  to  continue  straight  on. 

The  horses  of  the  pursuers  were  in  a 
fresher  and  better  condition  than  those  of 
the  pursued,  and  now,  after  a  keen  run  of 
nearly  two  miles,  the  enemy  gained 
rapidly.  Bullets  began  to  fly  in  increas 
ing  numbers  among  the  partisans,  and  now 
and  then  a  poor  fellow  went  down. 

"  Ah  !  "  came  from  the  major  in  invol 
untary  exclamation. 

"  Are  you  hit,  Joe  ?  "  asked  George. 

"  Yes,  twice.  You  and  Craige  save 
yourselves  if  you  can.  It's  up  with  me. 
I  can  merely  sell  my  life  dearly  when  they 
catch  up,"  and  he  drew  his  sabre. 

George's  only  reply  was  to  draw  his 
also.  At  that  moment  Burton's  horse  on 
the  other  side  went  down  and  the  young 


HEADLONG  FLIGHT.  67 

fellow  was  thrown  violently  into  the  ditch 
by  the  roadside,  where  he  lay  motionless. 

"Curse  the  red  devils!"  muttered 
George,  with  a  swift  glance  at  his  friend, 
but  he  rode  on,  watchful  of  his  brother. 

He  and  the  major  were  falling  behind, 
for  the  latter  had  ceased  to  spur  his  horse 
and  was  confused  from  the  shock  of  his 
bullet  wounds.  The  yells  of  the  foremost 
pursuers  were  in  their  very  ears.  But  a 
few  more  leaps  of  their  horses  would 
bring  them  abreast.  Great  clouds  of  dust 
rose  up,  through  which  George,  looking 
over  his  shoulder,  saw  obscure  forms  and 
gleaming  sabres. 

"  I'm  hit  again,"  cried  the  major.  "  Fly, 
George,  fly.  I  shall  fight  and  die  here," 
and  he  partially  turned  his  horse  to  carry 
out  his  purpose. 

At  that  instant  a  pistol  bullet  struck 
George's  horse,  and,  stung  with  the  pain, 
he  leaped  forward  a  dozen  paces  beyond 
control.  As  the  brave  young  fellow 
turned  with  the  impulse  to  fight  and  die 
with  his  brother,  he  saw  him  go  down 
under  what  seemed  many  sabre  strokes, 


68  HEADLONG  FLIGH/. 

and  then  the  dust  hid  him  from  view. 
With  the  celerity  of  light  the  thought 
flashed  through  George's  mind,  "  I  can  do 
nothing,"  and  in  that  moment  of  obscur 
ity  he  flung  himself  from  his  horse, 
crawled  to  the  roadside  and  lay  motion 
less,  face  downward,  as  if  dead.  The 
British  troopers,  shouting  in  their  mad 
exultation,  swept  past,  and  his  ruse  was 
successful. 

Although  Angus  had  spurred  his  horse 
almost  frantically,  it  took  him  some  little 
time  to  reach  the  head  of  the  column,  for 
all  the  partisans  were  pushing  their  jaded 
steeds  to  the  utmost.  By  the  time  he 
caught  up  with  the  most  advanced  the 
wall  on  the  left  of  the  road  ended,  and 
there  was  open  to  the  pursued  a  rough, 
broken  field  with  clumps  of  trees,  .vhich 
thickened  until  they  formed  a  part  of 
an  extended  forest.  Into  this  the  par 
tisans  streamed,  each  one  striking  out  for 
himself  and  scattering  as  far  as  possible. 

Angus  hesitated  a  moment.  What 
should  he  do  ?  As  the  major's  aid,  was 
it  not  his  duty  to  return  to  him?  He 


HEADLONG  FLIGHT.  69 

felt  that  it  was.  He  had  merely  been 
sent  forward  to  give  an  order,  and  noth 
ing  had  been  said  about  his  future  action. 
He  was  not  sure  that  the  order  was  meant 
to  apply  to  him  also,  and  he  had  the 
impression  that  it  was  always  the  duty  of 
an  aid  to  return  to  his  chief.  Moreover, 
Burton  and  George  were  still  with  Gra 
ham,  as  he  believed,  and  it  would  be  dis 
graceful  to  ride  away  and  leave  them. 
He  felt  that  he  must  go  back  and  share 
the  fate  of  those  to  whom  he  was  bound 
by  every  tie  the  battle-field  permits  ;  but 
God  only  knew  what  the  effort  cost  him. 
These  thoughts  passed  through  his  mind 
in  one  terrible  moment.  His  brave,  faith 
ful  will  could  again  control  his  action, 
but  not  his  young,  unburdened  nature, 
and,  crying  bitterly,  he  turned  his  horse 
to  report  to  the  major,  who  now  lay  bleed 
ing  and  helpless  by  the  roadside.  His 
tears  and  the  dust  blinded  him  as  he  rode 
slowly  backward,  every  instant  expecting 
that  Graham  and  his  friends  would  appear 
among  flying  partisans.  Bullets  were 
whizzing  about  him.  The  yells  of  the 


70  HEADLONG  FLIGHT. 

British  troopers  sounded  like  the  cries  of 
demons.  Suddenly  his  horse  was  struck 
by  a  furiously  galloping  steed  coming 
from  the  opposite  direction.  He  had 
only  time  to  feel  that  his  animal  had  lost 
its  footing  on  the  ditch  side  and  to  take 
his  feet  from  the  stirrups  when  he  fell 
and  lost  consciousness.  His  horse  strug 
gled- up  again  and  galloped  away  without 
him.  His  head  had  struck  against  a 
stone,  and  had  it  not  been  for  his  coon- 
skin  cap  the  blow  might  have  been  fatal. 

When  at  last  he  revived,  the  pursuit 
had  passed.  He  sat  up  and  looked 
around,  greatly  confused  and  bewildered. 
Two  men  down  the  road  were  lifting  a 
body  over  the  fence.  They  appeared 
familiar.  An  instant  later  he  sprang  up 
and  ran  toward  them,  crying,  "  Burton  ! 
George  !  " 

"  By  the  blessed  powers  of  heaven,  if 
there  ain't  Gus  ! "  said  Burton.  "  Thank 
God,  we're  together  again  and  the  major 
isn't  dead  either,  though  he  seems  all  cut 
to  pieces." 

"  Hasten  !    Every  second  counts  now," 


HEADLONG  FLIGHT.  71 

cried  George.  "  The  enemy  may  be  on 
us  at  any  moment.  See,  there's  a  gully 
yonder,  leading  down  to  a  little  thicket. 
You  carry  our  weapons,  Gus,  and  scud 
away,  while  we  bring  on  the  major.  Our 
only  chance  is  to  get  to  cover  as  soon  as 
possible." 

•  They  reached  the  gully  unobserved, 
and,  working  their  way  down  it,  soon 
buried  themselves  in  a  dense  thicket ; 
then,  panting  and  trembling  from  excite 
ment,  looked  into  each  other's  faces. 
Before  they  could  begin  explanations  the 
major  feebly  gasped,  "  Water." 

Fortunately,  there  was  a  little  pool 
near,  which  had  been  left  from  a  recent 
rain.  Although  it  was  hot  and  almost 
stagnant,  it  was  sweet  to  the  parched  lips 
of  the  wounded  man,  and  also  quenched 
the  intolerable  thirst  of  the  others. 

"  Now,  boys,"  George  began,  "  we  must 
talk  in  whispers.  We  shall  have  to  lie 
close  till  dark.  There  ought  to  be  a 
house  somewhere  off  here  to  the  right, 
beyond  that  piece  of  woods." 

"  There  is,"  said  Angus.     "  I  know  it 


72  HEADLONG  FLIGHT. 

well,  and  it  isn't  more'n  four  miles  from 
our  place.  Oh  dear !  to  think  we're  so 
near  home  and  yet  can't  get  there  !  " 

"  Well,  Gus,"  remarked  Burton,  with  a 
grim  laugh,  "our  chances  are  amazingly 
better  than  they  were  a  little  while  ago. 
There  was  a  time  when  I  said  good-by  to 
every  one." 

"  How  did  you  escape  ?  "  asked  the  boy. 

"  Horse  shot,  thrown  over  his  head  and 
stunned.  That's  all  my  story.  As  it  has 
^turned  out,  the  poor  brute  couldn't  have 
done  me  better  service.  The  first  one  I 
saw  on  his  feet  was  George  trying  to  lift 
the  major.  Now  for  your  yarn,  George." 

He  explained  what  the  reader  already 
knows,  adding,  "  I  played  'possum  to  such 
good  purpose  that  I  was  left  for  dead." 
Meanwhile  he  was  examining  and  bathing 
his  brother's  wounds.  "Good  God!"  he 
exclaimed,  "  I  believe  we  could  save  Joe 
if  we  could  only  get  him  to  a  house." 

"  Do  you  think  we  could  venture  out 
before  dark  ? "  asked  Angus,  wistfully. 
"  I  feel  as  if  I  could  take  almost  any  risk 
to  get  away." 


HEADLONG  FLIGHT.  73 

"  The  chances  are  that  we  wouldn't  get 
away,"  George  began. 

"  No,  boys,"  said  the  major,  feebly. 
"You  must  stay  in  cover.  I'm  in  com 
mand  yet,  and  I  order  you  to  take  not 
one  risk  on  my  account." 

"  Shut  up,  Joe,  and  save  your  strength," 
said  his  brother.  "You  may  give  all  the 
orders  you  please,  but  we  shall  do  what 
we  believe  is  best  for  you.  You're  going 
to  get  well  and  make  the  red-coats  pay 
for  this  day." 

"As  God  wills,"  said  the  young  officer, 
quietly. 

"  Well,"  replied  George,  brusquely,  "  I 
reckon  God  often  wills  what  we  do,  if  we 
set  our  teeth  and  do  our  best.  Come, 
Gus,  tell  us  how  you  appeared  on  the 
scene  so  opportunely." 

"  I  made  a  baby  of  myself  again,"  be 
gan  the  boy,  hanging  his  head.  "  I 
yelled  out  the  major's  orders  all  along 
the  line,  and  if  any  thing  could  have 
made  the  fellows  go  faster,  my  terror- 
stricken  voice  must  have  done  so.  By 
the  time  I  caught  up  with  the  leading 


74  HEADLONG  FLIGHT. 

ones  there  was  a  wide  field  on  the  left, 
and  our  men  scattered  in  that.  Never  in 
my  life  was  I  so  tempted  to  do  any  thing 
as  I  was  to  ride  after  them,  but  I  felt 
that  I  ought  to  come  back  to  the 
major " 

"  Come  back  ! "  exclaimed  George,  sus 
pending  his  work  to  stare  at  the  boy. 

"  Oughtn't  an  aid  to  come  back  after 
giving  an  order  ?  "  asked  the  boy. 

"Well,  yes,  as  a  rule,  but  the  order 
applied  to  you  as  well  as  the  rest." 

"  I  didn't  know  that.  I  should  have 
been  only  too  glad  had  I  thought  so 
then.  I'm  glad  now  it's  all  turned  out  as 
it  has." 

"Well,  well,  but  how  did  you  escape  a 
split  crown  ? "  George  asked. 

Angus  explained,  and  was  surprised  to 
find  the  major's  hand  on  his  as  he  sat 
near. 

"  Brave  boy,"  whispered  the  wounded 
man,  his  eyes  eloquent  with  approval. 

Burton  put  his  arm  around  the  lad's  neck 
and  said,  with  a  laugh,  "Yes,  Gus,  you 
made  a  baby  of  yourself  just  as  you  did 


HEADLONG  FLIGHT.  75 

before,  when  we  found  you  blubbering 
over  one  man  killed  and  another  cap 
tured." 

"  Please  don't  praise  me  any  more," 
said  Angus,  irritably.  "I've  been  fright 
ened  out  of  my  wits  twice  to-day 
already." 

"  I  only  wish,"  George  began,  "  that  I 
had  a  regiment  of  such — Ha  !  silence." 

A  hoarse  distant  laugh  was  borne  to 
them  on  the  breeze. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE     AMBUSCADE. 

enemy  are  returning,"  said 
George,  "  and  now  comes  the 
critical  moment  Burton,  crawl  to  the 
i\lj;r  ot  ilu-  thicket,  whence  you  can  see 
the  road.  If  they  decide  to  search  this 
spot,  we  must  take  to  our  heels  and  lead 
pursuit  away  from  the  major." 

In  the  meantime  he  cut  bushes  and 
stuck  them  in  the  ground  about  the 
prostrate  form  of  his  brother,  so  thickly 
that  one  could  scarcely  see  him  even  a 
few  feet  away.  Burton,  from  the  edge  of 
the  thicket,  saw  the  British  troopers  ad 
vancing  up  the  road,  laughing,  jesting, 
and  boasting  of  their  achievements.  Only 
a  small  squad  passed,  and  our  young  par 
tisans  at  last  concluded  that  the  main 
body  of  their  foes  had  returned  to  Char 
lotte  by  another  road.  The  English  sol- 


diers,  satisfied  that  none    of   their 
number  had  been  woundec 
the  road,  final!}'  disappe^-- 
dead  and  disabled  foes  to  be  event 
caved  for  lay  tlwr  friends.     At  las 
region  that  had  -witnessed 
tragksc^  seemed  Btt« 
**  I  begni  to  "rhfnl:  ire 

^ 

slrifcc  oat  for  Ac 

*«  f_     -  -      .^  •, 

ton.         .  —  ^  _____  .  _   ~rL  ~~  .  . 

oak  yxmacn     From  its  tup  I 

of  the  road 

..f    -m  -i-  -    _ 

::  :..t  ~  _  ~r  :  _  .  i  .  j  :_  :r  ... 
Eamisfacd  and  actually  weak 
from  irant  of  food,  "MOT  I  reckon  ipon  two 
L  r  i  .  ~  i  .'.  ~  ~  •"—  ~~  ~t  i  -  -  ^  '.  ~.  -. 

"Wefl,go  ahead,*  said  George,  -bat 
keep  dose  to  the  ground.     We're  m  mo 


r.::  :-.;  ir.t  r:ii  :_:  i;: 
witiiin  the  range  of  his  TISIOIIL  Oil  toe 
strength  of  his  report  it  was  decided  to 
push  for  the  farm-house  at  once.  Making 
a  chair  of  their  hands,  and  potting  the 
major's  arms  about  each  of  their 


78  THE  AMBUSCADE. 

George  and  Burton  bore  him  towards  the 
woods,  Angus  preceding  them  carrying 
their  rifles  (his  had  been  broken  in  his 
fall).  They  were  compelled  to  pause  and 
rest  from  time  to  time,  but  at  last  reached 
the  shelter  of  the  belt  of  forest.  Here 
they  lay  down  panting  and  exhausted, 
while  the  poor  major  seemed  scarcely 
alive. 

They  had  soon  much  cause  to  congrat 
ulate  themselves  on  their  action.  It  now 
became  clear  that  the  squad  of  the  enemy 
which  had  passed  had  probably  been  sent 
back  with  information,  for  now  the  main 
body  appeared  on  the  road  with  some 
prisoners.  The  British  had  evidently 
learned  the  partiality  of  the  Whig  militia 
for  cover  when  pressed,  for  two  dragoons 
leaped  the  fence  and  rode  up  to  and  into 
the  thicket  a  short  distance.  Then  one  of 
them  fired  a  pistol  bullet  into  its  recesses. 
Apparently  they  were  satisfied  that  no 
one  was  concealed  there,  for  they  rejoined 
their  comrades  on  the  road. 

The  boys  looked  at  each  other  signifi 
cantly  and  drew  a  deep  breath  of  relief. 


THE  AMBUSCADE.  79 

"  Well,"  said  George,  with  emphasis,  "  all 
that  looks  very  harmless  at  this  distance, 
but  I  tell  you  what  it  is,  fellows,  we 
haven't  had  a  nigher  graze.  If  we  had 
been  there  we'd  have  run  for  it,  and,  used 
up  as  we  are,  wouldn't  have  a  ghost  of 
a  chance.  Let  what  we've  seen  teach 
us  a  lesson.  If  like  circumstances  happen 
again,  our  best  course  will  be  to  lie  close, 
like  a  hunted  deer  in  his  bed.  That 
would  have  been  our  only  chance  in  this 
case,  even  though  one  of  us  had  been  hit 
by  that  pistol-shot." 

At  this  moment  Angus  caught  a  glimpse 
of  two  or  three  negroes,  who,  some  dis 
tance  away,  were  peering  through  the 
trees  at  the  passing  dragoons.  He  made 
a  circuit  with  light,  stealthy  tread,  and 
came  up  behind  them.  At  first  they  were 
much  startled,  but  soon  recognized  him 
as  "Young  Marse  Mclntire." 

"  Come  with  me,"  he  said  ;  "keep  well 
back  in  the  woods.  I've  got  some  work 
for  you  to  do." 

The  slaves  had  been  brought  thither 
by  curiosity  to  see  the  terrible  British,  of 


8o  THE  AMBUSCADE. 

whom  they  had  heard  so  much,  but  who, 
many  secretly  hoped,  might  become  their 
deliverers  from  bondage.  This  hope  was 
never  confirmed  by  facts,  for  the  English 
invaders  captured  slaves  as  they  would 
horses,  and  either  used  or  sold  them. 

Never  were  strong  hands  and  backs 
more  welcome  than  on  this  occasion.  The 
negroes  easily  carried  the  major  and 
every  weight  of  which  the  weary  young 
fellows  could  divest  themselves,  and,  tak 
ing  the  shortest  path  through  the  woods, 
led  the  way  to  the  farm-house.  Its  hos 
pitable  mistress  was  a  strong,  sensible 
woman,  and  a  good  nurse.  The  major, 
almost  lifeless  from  loss  of  blood,  was 
revived  by  stimulants  and  milk,  undressed 
and  put  to  bed.  It  was  then  discovered 
that  he  had  received  "  nine  wounds,"  and 
that  in  one  instance  his  life  had  been 
saved  by  a  large  buckle  which  had  broken 
the  force  of  a  sabre  stroke.  Since  this 
gallant  young  officer,  but  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  no  longer  appears  in  my 
story,  I  may  as  well  mention  here  that  he 
was  tenderly  carried  to  his  mother's  house 


THE  AMBUSCADE.  8 1 

the  next  day,  and  thence,  after  some  rest, 
to  a  hospital. 

Strange  to  relate  he  recovered,  and 
within  a  few  brief  months  raised  a  com 
pany  of  men  and  entered  on  a  new  career 
of  even  greater  hardihood.  His  brother 
George  remained  with  him  until  he  was 
safely  placed  in  the  hospital,  and  then 
began  a  series  of  partisan  operations  on 
his  own  account,  as  we  shall  soon  learn. 

Burton  and  Angus  were  greatly  revived 
by  the  refreshment  freely  given  at  the 
farm-house,  and  as  soon  as  they  felt  equal 
to  the  journey,  mounted  borrowed  horses 
and  rode  homeward.  Mrs.  Mclntire  and 
Ella  had  been  almost  distracted  by  anxiety 
and  fear.  Terrible  stories  and  still  more 
awful  rumors  had  been  related  to  them, 
and  they  dreaded  the  worst.  When,  after 
nightfall,  the  dogs  began  to  bark,  they 
knew  not  whether  to  fly  to  the  woods  with 
the  children  or  to  wait  in  the  hope  that  it 
was  the  absent  ones  returning.  Burton 
gave  a  long  peculiar  whistle,  a  signal  of 
approach  that  Ella  knew  well.  A  moment 
later  mother  and  daughter  were  bestow- 


82  THE  AMBUSCADE. 

ing  their  welcome  in  embraces,  kisses  and 
tears  of  joy.  Supper  had  been  saved  in 
the  hope  that  the  absent  would  return, 
and  now  the  fragrant  coffee  was  placed 
over  the  fire.  Then  the  boys  began  a 
story  at  which  the  cheeks  of  the  listeners 
often  paled,  and  after  a  generous  Southern 
fashion,  each  of  the  young  fellows  vied 
in  praising  the  other.  The  mother  be 
came  so  overwhelmed  and  faint  at  the 
thought  of  what  her  boy  had  passed 
through,  that  Angus  said,  "  We  won't  tell 
any  more  to-night.  Be  content  and  thank 
ful,  mother,  for  here  we  both  are,  safe  and 
sound.  Let  us  tumble  into  bed,  for  I  feel 
as  if  I  could  sleep  a  week." 

Burton,  holding  Ella's  hand,  had  been, 
during  the  last  few  moments,  the  picture 
of  sleepy  happiness.  Suddenly  he  bowed 
his  head  upon  her  shoulder  and  snored 
audibly.  A  loud  laugh  from  Angus  and 
the  little  girls  so  far  awakened  him  that 
he  stumbled  after  the  boy  to  their  room, 
and  it  was  high  noon  the  next  day  before 
they  shook  off  their  lethargy. 

After  a  substantial  dinner  they  proved 


THE  AMBUSCADE.  83 

how  quickly  young,  healthful  bodies  can 
recover  from  the  severest  strain  and 
fatigue.  Fuller  details  of  their  experi 
ence  were  given,  but  the  present  and 
future  were  so  replete  with  danger  that 
the  past  was  almost  forgotten  in  thoughts 
of  what  might  happen  at  any  hour.  Woe 
ful  tidings  had  been  brought  from  Char 
lotte  and  the  farm-houses  near  the  village. 
Some  dwellings  had  been  taken  posses 
sion  of  and  the  inmates  compelled  to  pro 
vide  for  rough,  brutal  men  who  devoured 
and  appropriated  every  thing;  others  had 
been  sacked,  and  all  valuables  carried  off, 
while  not  a  few  had  been  burned.  With 
the  dispersion  of  Major  Graham's  force, 
all  organized  resistance  had  ceased,  and 
the  whole  region  apparently  was  at  the 
mercy  of  the  invaders. 

As  these  facts  became  clear,  Burton 
and  Angus  decided  that  it  was  their  duty 
to  remain  at  the  house,  and,  by  ceaseless 
vigilance,  either  to  beat  off  a  small  num 
ber  of  marauders,  or,  if  outnumbered,  to 
take  the  family  to  a  place  of  shelter  and 
concealment  in  the  woods.  Burton  rode 


84  THE  AMBUSCADE. 

over  to  his  plantation  and  put  the  place 
in  charge  of  a  trusty  overseer,  first  send 
ing  his  aunt  to  a  safe  refuge  farther  north. 
He  also  brought  for  Angus  a  heavy  fowl 
ing  piece,  which,  loaded  with  buckshot, 
and  at  short  range,  would  be  quite  as 
effective  as  the  rifle  he  had  lost.  The 
handsome  pistols  and  sword  which  had 
belonged  to  the  British  ensign  were  much 
admired,  and  a  good  supply  of  ammuni 
tion  was  prepared  for  the  former.  One 
of  the  pistols  was  given  to  Ella,  who  was 
making  good  the  brave  words  she  had 
spoken  at  the  beginning  of  our  story. 
She  caught  the  high,  sanguine  spirit  of 
her  lover,  and  it  would  be  difficult  to  say 
whether  she  suffered  more  from  fear,  dur 
ing  the  days  which  followed,  or  enjoyed 
more  from  excitement  and  exultation  at 
the  prowess  and  dauntless  behavior  of  her 
lover  and  brother.  The  stories  they 
heard  made  it  but  too  sadly  evident  that 
even  she  might  be  compelled  to  aid  in  the 
defence  of  their  home. 
*  The  first  paralyzing  effect  of  fear  soon 
passed  from  the  community,  and  the 


THE  AMBUSCADE.  85 

people  began  to  understand  the  conditions 
under  which  they  must  live  if  the  British 
army  remained  at  Charlotte.  If  they 
would  go  to  the  village  and  give  their 
allegiance  to  the  royal  officers,  they 
would  be  unmolested  and  money  would 
be  paid  for  the  provisions  they  furnished. 
If  they  held  aloof  or  were  hostile,  they 
would  be  secure  from  no  wrong  or  out 
rage.  Yet  the  great  majority  of  the  men 
not  only  refused  to  have  dealings  with 
the  British,  but  even  began  to  fire  on  the 
foraging  parties  that  were  sent  out  daily. 
As  the  people  found  themselves  threat 
ened  and  insulted,  as  well  as  robbed,  or 
saw  their  families  deserting  their  homes 
and  flying  to  the  woods  when  the  ma 
rauding  parties  approached,  hostility  be 
came  hourly  more  bitter  and  aggressive. 
Food  for  man  and  beast,  for  which  the 
country  was  scoured,  was  purchased  with 
blood. 

The  part  taken  by  Burton  and  Angus 
in  the  recent  conflicts  soon  became  known, 
and  other  young  fellows  of  the  vicinity 
began  to  ride  in  and  concoct  measures 


86  THE  AMBUSCADE. 

tending  to  some  scheme  of  mutual  help. 
It  was  decided  that  on  eminences  near 
their  respective  abodes  piles  of  brush 
should  be  heaped,  so  that  smoke  by  day 
and  fire  at  night  should  become  signals 
of  approaching  danger,  and  the  need  of 
assistance. 

Meanwhile,  at  the  Mclntire  farm-house 
some  one  was  always  vigilantly  on  the 
watch.  The  dwelling  stood  near  the 
edge  of  a  forest,  which  was  bordered  by 
a  thick  growth  of  young  pines.  With 
timely  warning,  therefore,  the  family 
would  have  little  difficulty  in  escaping 
observation,  and,  having  once  gained  the 
woods,  paths  leading  to  its  rugged  re 
cesses  were  well-known.  But  a  very  few 
days  elapsed  before  a  British  foraging 
party  moved  up  into  the  vicinity.  Angus, 
who  was  on  the  watch,  saw  the  ominous 
smoke  which -was  a  summons  to  all  the 
armed  men  in  the  region.  With  a  sad 
heart,  Mrs.  Mclntire  witnessed  the  hasty 
preparations  for  departure,  but  believed 
that  no  other  course  would  be  right  under 
the  circumstances.  The  day  when  her 


THE  AMBUSCADE.  87 

household  would  need  assistance  might 
be  near  indeed. 

As  her  son  and  Burton  were  about  to 
mount,  who  should  ride  up  but  George 
Graham,  and  never  did  any  one  receive  a 
more  honest  welcome.  "You  are  just  in 
time,"  they  cried,  breathlessly,  telling  him 
the  emergency. 

"  Mr.  Graham,  have  you  had  any  din 
ner  ?"  asked  thoughtful  Mrs.  Mclntire, 
hastening  out. 

"  No ;  I  can  eat  something  as  I  go 
along." 

Angus  hesitated,  but  Burton  shook  his 
head.  "  There's  no  help  for  it,  mother," 
he  urged.  "  Our  honor's  pledged  to  lose 
not  a  moment.  Give  George  a  glass  of 
milk  and  some  bread  and  meat.  He  must 
go  at  once,  for  he's  worth  half  a  dozen  of 
us." 

Laughingly  protesting  against  this  view, 
George  declared  that  Burton  was  right 
and  that  he  must  dine  in  the  saddle.  In 
a  very  few  moments  he  was  ready,  and  all 
three  rode  away,  the  mother,  Ella  and  the 
little  girls  watching  them  as  long  as  their 


88  THE  AMBUSCADE. 

forms  were  visible.  How  many,  in  those 
troublous  times,  thus  looked  their  last  at 
loved  ones  who  never  returned! 

Rest  had  quieted  and  steadied  Angus's 
nerves ;  the  necessity  for  brave,  warlike 
action  had  become  clearer  each  day.  His 
young,  smooth  face  had  often  grown  hot 
with  manly  indignation  at  the  wrongs  of 
which  he  heard — wrongs  which  he  was 
now  about  to  witness.  Moreover,  his 
past  experience  was  not  without  effect, 
and  the  awful  sense  of  novelty  would  be 
absent  from  future  scenes  of  strife. 

The  friends  were  joined  on  the  way  by 
neighbors,  across  whose  backs  were  slung 
the  rifles  which  the  people  of  that  day 
knew  so  well  how  to  use.  By  the  time 
they  had  reached  the  scene  of  the  maraud, 
these  numbers  had  increased  to  a  score  of 
men  and  boys,  among  whom,  undaunted 
by  his  recent  narrow  escape,  was  young 
Zach  Wilson. 

They  had  to  approach  very  warily,  for 
the  British  foraging  party  was  far  too 
large  to  permit  an  open  attack.  From  a 
wooded  knoll  some  distance  from  the 


THE  AMBUSCADE.  89 

house  they  looked  upon  proceedings 
which  made  their  blood  boil.  All  the 
live-stock  on  the  place  was  being  slaugh 
tered  and  loaded  on  wagons,  and  the  barn 
emptied  of  grain,  hay  and  corn-leaf  fodder. 
Some  of  the  more  ruthless  of  the  soldiery 
were  sacking  the  house,  carrying  out 
every  thing  that  took  their  fancy.  An 
old  white-haired  man  expostulated  and 
received  a  blow  on  his  mouth  ;  beneath  a 
tree  were  huddled  a  woman  and  some 
little  children,  who  \vere  sobbing  and 
wringing  their  hands.  The  foragers  paid 
no  heed  to  them,  and  the  whole  place 
resounded  with  snatches  of  ribald  songs, 
laughter  and  oaths. 

"  I've  marked  the  fellow  that  struck 
the  old  man,"  said  Burton,  who  had  a 
good  field-glass.  "  I'm  going  to  creep 
up,  and,  if  possible,  get  a  shot  at  him.  I 
think  I  can  do  it  through  that  cornfield 
yonder." 

"  It's  the  only  place  where  it  will  be 
possible,"  assented  George.  "  The  ground 
is  unusually  open  near  the  house,  and  I 
can  see  no  gap  in  the  line  pickets.  We 


90  THE  AMBUSCADE. 

can't  strike  to  any  advantage  till  they're 
on  the  march." 

"A  shot  may  hasten  them,"  resumed 
Burton,  "  and  my  fingers  fairly  ache  to 
pull  trigger  on  that  fellow.  I  shall  know 
him  by  his  big,  bushy  beard.  Be  ready, 
boys,  to  give  'em  a  volley  when  I  come  in 
on  a  run  with  a  score  or  two  after  me." 

"  If  some  one  will  lend  me  a  long-range 
rifle,  I'll  go  with  you,"  spoke  up  Angus. 
"  I'd  have  to  venture  in  too  close  with 
this  fowling-piece." 

"  No,  Brother  Gus,  you  can't  go.  I've 
promised  to  try  and  keep  you  from  all 
extra  risks." 

"Stay  with  me,  Gus,"  said  George, 
decidedly.  "You  shall  have  all  the  fight 
ing  you  want  before  night.  I  know  how 
Burton  feels  about  shooting  the  wretch 
who  struck  the  old  man ;  but,  as  a  rule, 
we  shouldn't  take  too  great  risks." 

The  majority  of  those  present  were 
ardent  young  fellows,  who  with  difficulty 
restrained  their  impatience  under  George's 
words.  The  bold  purpose  of  Burton,  how 
ever,  was  just  suited  to  their  fancy,  and 


THE  AMBUSCADE.  91 

they  mounted  and  rode  down  through  the 
woods  to  the  base  of  the  hill,  so  as  to  be 
in  supporting  distance  when  the  youth 
returned.  He  bounded  away  with  the 
fleetness  of  a  deer,  and  gained  the  corn 
field  unperceived. 

The  videttes  of  the  enemy  were  scat 
tered  along  the  side  of  this  field  next  to 
the  house,  and  Burton  soon  became  con 
vinced  that  he  would  have  to  creep  up  to 
its  very  edge  to  get  within  range  of  the 
man  he  had  selected  as  target.  This  he 
could  not  do  and  retain  a  chance  of 
safety.  While  he  could  be  very  impetuous 
under  excitement,  he  was  not  one  to  do  a 
foolhardy  thing  in  cool  blood.  He  had 
about  decided  to  pick  off  one  of  the 
videttes  and  then  escape,  when  he  saw 
that  the  whole  foraging  party  was  about 
to  withdraw.  It  had  been  unmolested, 
and  the  officer  in  command  relaxed  his 
caution,  called  in  his  sentinels,  and  pre 
pared  to  march  back  to  Charlotte.  As 
the  pickets  retired  from  the  edge  of  the 
cornfield,  Burton  crept  up  closer  and 
closer,  vigilantly  alert  to  catch  another 


92  THE  AMBUSCADE. 

glimpse  of  the  man  with  the  bushy  beard. 
After  almost  despairing  of  seeing  him 
again,  he  suddenly  appeared,  coming  from 
the  house  with  an  armful  of  bedding, 
which  he  placed  upon  a  wagon  whose 
driver  yet  lingered.  The  fellow  then 
clambered  up  to  arrange  the  stolen 
articles  more  securely.  Burton,  who  by 
this  time  had  made  his  way  to  the  last 
row  of  corn,  waited  no  longer,  but  took 
deliberate  aim  and  fired.  He  paused 
only  long  enough  to  see  the  man  start 
violently,  seek  to  catch  hold  of  some 
thing,  and  fall  headlong  to  the  ground, 
then,  crouching,  ran  toward  his  partisan 
support.  He  had  gone  but  a  little  way 
before  a  dozen  dragoons  came  galloping 
towards  the  corn  after  him.  But  his 
friends  were  equally  prompt,  and,  under 
George's  advice,  spread  out  after  enter 
ing  the  field,  so  as  to  give  the  impression 
of  a  large  force.  Rustling  and  crashing 
through  the  corn,  their  swift  advance  was 
like  the  sound  of  a  tempest,  and  the 
British  dragoons  soon  fled,  carrying  the 
direful  tidings  that  a  multitude  of  Whigs 


THE  AMBUSCADE.  93 

was  upon  them.  The  drivers  of  the 
forage-wagons  whipped  up  their  horses, 
and  the  heavily  loaded  vehicles  rumbled, 
groaned  and  bounced  along  the  stony 
road.  One  broke  down  and  was  aban 
doned.  The  English  officer  drew  his 
men  together  into  a  compact  body,  and 
began  a  rapid  retreat.  The  partisans 
would  have  pursued  openly,  but  George 
checked  them,  knowing  that  this  course 
would  reveal  the  smallness  of  their 
numbers. 

"  Follow  me,"  he  cried.  "  By  making 
a  short  circuit  we  can  come  upon  them 
about  a  mile  from  here  in  a  piece  of 
woods,  and  then  will  have  more  or  less 
cover  all  the  way  to  town.  If  they  see 
how  few  we  are,  they'll  give  us  the  chase, 
and  I've  had  enough  of  such  chasing." 

He  seemed  to  be  the  natural  leader, 
and  they  all  followed.  In  doing  so  they 
caught  up  with  another  band  of  partisans, 
in  which  were  the  owner  of  the  place  and 
his  two  sons,  all  burning  to  avenge  the 
wrongs  which  they  had  thus  far  helplessly 
witnessed.  Away  they  went,  like  the 


94  THE  AMBUSCADE. 

wind,  down  a  wood-road,  until  at  last  they 
were  in  advance  of  the  foraging  party ; 
then  pushed  directly  into  the  forest,  riding 
through  a  dense  growth  that  would  have 
greatly  impeded  others  than  the  expert  and 
hardy  natives  of  the  region.  They  struck 
the  road  at  a  point  where  it  wound  through 
the  heavy  timber,  rising  from  almost  im 
penetrable  thickets.  Here  George  set 
his  ambuscade,  with  orders  that  the  first 
volley  should  be  directed  against  the 
wagon-drivers  and  such  officers  as  were 
visible. 

"  It  should  be  our  object  to  increase 
the  enemy's  fears,"  he  said,  "  and  so,  if 
possible,  develop  a  first-class  panic.  Here's 
an  obscure  wood-road,  leading  back  into 
the  forest.  With  your  permission,  I'll 
arrange  you  on  the  right  of  this,  in  three 
squads  ;  the  first  to  deliver  their  fire  as  I 
have  said,  and  then  to  gallop  down  the 
road  far  enough  to  get  a  chance  to  reload. 
Of  course,  they'll  make  a  rush  for  us, 
when  the  second  squad  will  give  them  a 
volley,  and  then  be  off  in  like  manner. 
When  I  say  the  word,  give  'em  the  third 


THE  AMBUSCADE.  95 

volley.  Thus  they'll  get  the  impression 
that  the  woods  are  full  of  us,  and  will  be 
off,  although  they  outnumber  us  three  to 
one.  And  now,"  he  concluded,  "  silence 
until  my  rifle  gives  the  order  to  fire." 


CHAPTER  V. 

TORY  ROBBERS. 

FOR  a  few  moments  the  silence  was 
unbroken  on  the  densely  shaded  and 
narrow  highway.  The  startled  squir 
rels  ceased  their  barking  notes  of  surprise 
and  curiosity.  Their  keen  eyes  detected 
the  motionless  forms,  and,  suspecting 
danger,  they  sped  stealthily  away.  Grouse 
and  partridges  knew  by  instinct  that  those 
who  had  caused  their  alarm  still  lurked  in 
cover  like  themselves. 

Sounds  from  the  approaching  enemy 
soon  became  audible,  however ;  first  the 
rumble  of  the  wagons  and  then  the  tramp 
of  horses.  A  platoon  of  cavalry  formed 
the  vanguard,  and  George  let  it  ride  past 
unmolested.  The  wagons  next  appeared, 
with  infantrymen  walking  on  each  side  of 
them  ;  and  these  were  followed  by  the 
main  body  of  infantry,  another  platoon  of 


TORY  ROBBERS.  97 

cavalry  acting  as  a  rear-guard.  The  un 
dergrowth  was  so  thick  in  the  damp,  low 
spot  through  which  the  foraging  party 
was  passing,  that  it  had  been  thought 
almost  impossible  to  throw  out  flankers, 
and  the  officer  commanding  had  deemed 
it  the  best  policy  to  hasten  on  to  a  more 
open  country  before  pursuers  could  over 
take  them.  The  many  anxious  glances 
turned  towards  the  dense  woods  on  either 
side,  however,  proved  that  the  aspect  of 
the  place  was  any  thing  but  pleasing. 

The  partisans  chafed  under  George's 
delay  in  firing,  and  were  fast  losing  their 
self-restraint.  Few  had  received  even 
the  first  lessons  in  discipline ;  they  were 
a  chance  assemblage  of  wronged  and 
angry  men,  who  had  tacitly  accepted  a 
young,  untried  leader  within  the  last 
hour ;  and  had  he  not  given  the  signal 
from  his  rifle,  in  time,  his  plans  would 
have  been  disconcerted.  Being  an  un 
usually  good  marksman,  he  fired  upon 
the  officer  leading  the  rear-guard  of  dra 
goons  and  the  man  fell ;  as  also  did  sev 
eral  of  the  wagon-drivers  and  protecting 


98  TORY  ROBBERS. 

infantry.  There  was  a  moment  of  con 
sternation,  and  then  the  enemy  fired  a 
volley  into  the  woods.  Bullets  flew  like 
hail  about  the  partisans,  but  the  interven 
ing  brush  prevented  accuracy  of  aim. 
The  rear-guard  troopers  came  galloping 
forward,  and  those  in  the  van  also  re 
turned  to  the  point  of  attack.  The  only 
sound  they  heard  was  the  receding  rush 
of  steeds,  as  the  first  squad  retired  ac 
cording  to  George's  directions.  The 
other  two  squads  had  the  courage  and 
steadiness  to  remain  quiet  at  their  leader's 
warning  gesture  and  command  "  Wait." 

"  The  cowardly  curs  have  made  off," 
shouted  a  British  officer  in  the  road. 
"  There's  no  use  in  trying  to  follow  where 
only  swamp-foxes  can  run.  Other  drivers 
take  the  reins  and  push  out  of  this  hole. 
Forward ! " 

As  a  response,  equally  clear,  George's 
voice  rang  out,  "  Half  of  second  rank  aim 
at  the  leading  horses  on  the  wagons. 
Fire ! " 

Now,  down  went  both  horses  and  men, 
and  the  wagons  again  came  to  a  stand- 


TORY  ROBBERS.  99 

still.  The  officer  who  had  characterized 
the  partisans  as  "cowardly  curs"  was  on 
the  ground,  riddled  by  buckshot  from 
Angus's  fowling-piece.  The  British,  of 
course,  again  began  firing  in  the  woods, 
and  now  that  the  location  of  their  foes 
was  better  localized,  their  ^im  was  surer, 
and  two  or  three  of  the  partisans  were 
hit. 

"  Follow  me,  all,"  cried  George,  and 
away  they  went,  crashing  through  the 
under-growth,  towards  the  wood-road,  with 
bullets  flying  after  them. 

By  this  time  the  British  troopers  in 
advance  had  found  the  obscure  wood- 
road  at  the  point  where  it  intersected  the 
highway,  and  a  dozen  brave  fellows 
spurred  into  it.  They  paid  dearly,  how 
ever,  for  their  temerity,  for,  crowded 
together  in  the  narrow  passage,  they 
soon  revealed  to  George  his  opportunity. 

"  Halt !  "  he  shouted.  "  To  cover  on 
both  sides  of  road.  Now  don't  all  aim 
at  the  two  or  three  in  advance.  Pick 
out  your  man.  Fire  !  " 

Again    the    irregular    volley    was    so 


100  TORY  ROBBERS. 

effective  that  the  pursuit  was  checked, 
but  only  for  a  moment  or  two. 

"  Follow  me,  all."  again  cried  George, 
and  he  led  the  way  until  the  rear-squad 
caught  up  with  the  others.  "  We  must 
change  our  tactics,"  he  resumed.  "  Scat 
ter.  Each  man  take  to  the  woods  for 
himself,  but  keep  advancing  toward  Char 
lotte.  When  you  see  a  chance  fora  shot, 
blaze  away  and  move  on.  Keep  within 
sound  of  three  whistles  from  me,  which 
will  summon  you  together  again.  Away, 
and  each  man  be  an  Indian." 

The  pursuing  force  came  up  in  time 
only  to  hear  receding  sounds  in  every 
direction,  and  to  catch  an  occasional 
glimpse  of  a  retreating  form  here  and 
there.  Some,  who  had  not  been  suffi 
ciently  swift  in  obeying  the  order,  had 
narrow  escapes,  but  they  soon  turned  the 
tables  on  the  enemy,  and,  from  places 
of  concealment,  began  a  scattering  fire, 
which  increased  as  opportunity  was  found 
to  reload. 

The  English  troops  soon  learned  that 
it  was  useless  to  follow.  A  form,  seen 


TORY  ROBBERS.  ioi 

for  a,  moment,  melted  away ;  vanished 
only  to  indicate  its  presence  in  another 
locality  by  a  fatal  shot.  They  quickly 
retired,  therefore,  to  the  highway  again, 
where  there  were  confused  counsels  and 
almost  panic.  George's  orders  to  fire  on 
the  horses  had  delayed  the  British  troops, 
but  they  still  clung  to  the  hope  of  getting 
off  with  their  plunder.  The  poor  dead 
and  wounded  beasts  were  drawn  aside, 
two  wagons  abandoned,  and,  with  the 
rest,  the  party  was  again  pushing  for 
ward.  Men  were  reluctant  to  mount  to 
exposed  positions  in  the  driver's  seat, 
and  the  partisans  soon  increased  this  hes 
itancy. 

The  conflict  had  now  taken  on  a  form 
well  suited  to  the  hardy  natives,  every 
one  of  whom  had  been  a  hunter.  As  the 
troopers  retired  from  the  wood-road,  they 
followed  and  closed  in  upon  their  exas 
perated  but  almost  helpless  victims. 
George's  force,  however,  was  so  con 
cealed  in  the  forest  and  so  scattered  that 
it  afforded  no  target,  no  point  for  defi 
nite  attack.  To  the  British  the  woods 


102  TORY  ROBBERS. 

appeared  full  of  hornets  whose  stings 
were  felt,  but  whose  bodies  were  invisi 
ble.  Drivers  again  began  to  tumble 
from  their  seats,  horses  were  again  down, 
and  even  non-commissioned  officers,  as 
sergeants,  who  in  the  emergency  had  to 
exercise  command,  were  either  hit,  or 
else  found  bullets  whizzing  near  so  often 
as  to  show  that  they  were  singled  out. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  instinct  of 
self-preservation  gained  the  mastery ; 
traces  were  cut ;  each  horse  mounted  by 
two  of  the  infantrymen,  and  all  the  party 
made  a  rapid  push  for  the  open  country. 
The  partisans  followed  until  satisfied 
that  nothing  more  was  to  be  feared  from 
this  ravaging  band,  and  then  returned 
towards  the  scene  of  conflict.  They 
drew  together  in  the  road  with  flushed, 
excited  faces,  and  eyes  in  which  still  lin 
gered  fierce  gleams  of  passion. 

If  they  were  no  longer  confronted  by 
the  enemy,  they  certainly  were  compelled 
to  face  grave,  perplexing  questions  and 
duties.  Two  of  their  number  had  been 
slain  outright,  and  four  or  five  were 


TORY  ROBBERS.  103 

wounded.  A  score  of  their  foes  were  scat 
tered  about,  either  disabled  or  dead. 
There  also  were  the  wagons  with  the 
plunder  of  two  or  three  plantations  heaped 
upon  them. 

Now  that  the  fight  was  over,  all  sem 
blance  of  organization  disappeared,  and 
George  was  but  one  of  the  thirty  odd 
neighbors  whom  the  emergency  had  drawn 
together.  Recognizing  the  fact,  he  sat 
quietly  on  his  horse  until  his  opinion  was 
asked.  Some  counselled  one  thing  and 
some  another,  while  all  agreed  that  the 
British  would  send  out  a  strong  force  in 
the  early  morning  to  recover  what  had 
been  lost,  and  probably  to  take  vengeance 
on  the  families  residing  near.  At  last 
young  Zach  Wilson  piped  with  his  boyish 
voice,  "  What  we  need  is  some  one  to  take 
command  of  the  whole  kit  of  us.  Gus 
Mclntire  is  the  only  officer  present. 
Major  Graham  promoted  him  to  be  ensign 
in  one  fight  the  other  day.  I  heard  him, 
and  so  did  others." 

Blushing  like  a  girl,  Angus  rode  for 
ward  and  cried,  "  I  tell  you  flatly  that  I 


104  TORY  ROBBERS. 

won't  take  any  command  at  all,  but  there's 
one  here  that  I'll  obey  to  the  death,  and 
that's  the  major's  brother,  George  Gra 
ham.  Who  should  now  tell  us  what  to 
do  better  than  he  who  led  us  so  well  in 
the  fight  ?  I  move  that  we  all  put  our 
selves  under  George's  orders,  and  set  to 
work,  for  we  haven't  much  daylight  left." 

The  boy's  words  found  prompt  and 
general  approval,  although  some  of  the 
older  farmers  looked  dubiously  at  the 
young  fellow  named  as  leader  during  the 
coming  hours,  which  would  require  pru 
dent  action  instead  of  fighting.  Many 
knew  little  about  him,  and  feared  rash, 
immature  counsel,  while  nearly  all  looked 
wistfully  at  the  loaded  wagons  and  the 
weapons  of  the  enemy  not  yet  appro 
priated. 

George,  doffing  his  hat  in  natural 
courtesy,  rode  forward  and  said,  "  I  accept 
command  for  the  occasion,  since  this 
seems  to  be  the  general  wish  ;  also  for 
the  reason  suggested  by  Gus  Mclntire — 
'We  have  little  daylight  left.'  One  head 
is  better  than  many,  or  no  head  at  all.  I 


TORY  ROBBERS.  105 

may  seem  very  young,  but  I've  seen  ser 
vice  with  my  brother  during  the  last  year 
or  two,  and  perhaps  experience  will  make 
up  in  part  for  lacking  age.  In  the  first 
place,  we  can't  carry  off  these  wagons, 
their  tracks  would  make  too  plain  a  trail, 
but  we  can  take  away  on  our  horses  a 
good  part  of  their  contents.  You  are  all 
friends  and  neighbors ;  help  the  robbed 
ones  to  hide  what  they  can  in  the  woods, 
for  the  woods  may  become  our  best 
refuge.  I  would  advise  that  meat  barrels 
be  secreted,  and  that  as  many  as  possible 
of  these  slaughtered  cattle  go  into  them  ; 
well  salted  food,  powder  and  lead  will  be 
our  chief  needs.  There  is  no  doubt  at 
all  but  that  the  enemy  will  be  upon  us  in 
the  morning,  and  most  likely  several 
houses  will  be  burned.  Families  and 
valuables  should  be  well  hidden  in  the 
early  morning.  I've  ridden  far  to-day 
and  am  tired,  but  I'll  help  you  a  good 
part  of  the  night.  Then  we  must  rest, 
and  every  rifle  be  ready  for  use  to-morrow, 
for  we  shall  have  a  hot  day." 

This  speech  commended  itself  to  every 


106  TORY  ROBBERS. 

one,  and  his  leadership  was  confirmed  by 
acclamation.  The  young  officer  then 
acted  with  great  promptness  and  vigor. 

"  Gus  Mclntire,"  he  ordered,  "  you  and 
Zach  Wilson  go  down  the  road  on  the 
traces  of  the  red-coats,  and  see  that  there 
is  no  danger  from  that  quarter.  Don't 
allow  yourselves  to  be  surprised.  Burton 
Craige,  take  half-a-dozen  men  and  gather 
up  all  the  dead  in  one  place,  and  the 
wounded  in  another.  Give  the  wounded 
water,  and  leave  them  a  supply  for  the 
night.  If  you  can  find  a  good  rifle,  save 
it  for  Gus,  who  has  only  a  shot-gun.  The 
other  weapons  and  ammunition  of  the 
enemy  should  go  to  those  who  are  poorly 
supplied.  Bring  them  together  to  old 
Father  Johnson  here,  and  he'll  give  'em 
out  to  those  who  can  make  a  good  claim. 
The  rest  help  me  unload  and  carry  off  the 
contents  of  the  wagons." 

In  a  moment  all  were  engaged  in  their 
several  duties,  and  men  were  coming  and 
going  until  late  in  the  starlit  night. 
Laughing  words  and  jests  were  not  want 
ing  among  the  younger  members  of  the 


TORY  ROBBERS.  107 

party,  but  the  faces  of  those  who  had 
families  were  anxious  or  stern.  After 
two  hours  Angus  and  Zach  were  recalled 
and  other  patriots  sent  out.  George  told 
the  boys  to  go  home,  but  they  would  not, 
and,  laughingly  defying  his  authority, 
declared  that  they  would  remain  as  his 
body-guard.  They  were  soon  asleep 
under  a  tree,  however. 

After  Father  Johnson  had  distributed 
the  weapons,  he  had  been  directed  with 
a  few  others  to  take  the  two  slain  parti 
sans  and  the  five  who  had  been  wounded 
to  their  friends.  Thus  it  happened  that 
by  eleven  at  night  but  few  of  the  party 
of  the  afternoon  remained.  With  the 
help  of  these  George  broke  up  the 
wagons,  set  fire  to  the  debris,  and  piled 
upon  the  burning  heaps  such  articles  as 
had  not  been  carried  away.  The  supply 
of  water  for  the  wounded  was  replenished. 
Beyond  this,  and  giving  the  forlorn  group 
some  of  the  stolen  food  from  the  wagons, 
nothing  more  was  done,  the  partisans 
rightly  believing  that  their  disabled  ene 
mies  would  be  cared  for  by  their  friends 


108  TORY  ROBBERS. 

in  the  morning.  Then  all  dispersed, 
George  and  Burton  riding  homeward 
with  Angus.  In  a  few  moments  the  scene 
that  had  witnessed  such  tragic  and  varied 
activity  was  left  to  weird,  flickering 
shadows,  and  to  those  who -must  suffer 
alone  until  relieved. 

There  had  been  no  sleep  for  Mrs. 
Mclntire  and  Ella.  A  ruddy  fire  blazed 
on  the  hearth,  and  the  table  fairly  groaned 
with  the  supper  which  awaited  the  return 
ing  youths.  They  were  too  weary  to  do 
justice  to  it,  or  to  spend  many  moments 
in  explanation.  Their  few  words  were 
reassuring,  however,  and  their  safety  suf 
ficient  reason  for  heartfelt  thanksgiving. 
Ella  summoned  slaves  to  feed  and  care  for 
the  horses,  and  established  herself  as 
sentinel  for  the  rest  of  the  night. 

As  had  been  surmised,  the  early  morn 
ing  found  the  British  advancing  in  force. 
Two  or  three  Whigs  who  had  been  on  the 
watch  near  the  village  came  riding  out, 
warning  the  inhabitants.  Smoking  beacon 
fires  were  seen  far  and  near,  summoning 
the  people  to  arms.  George  and  his 


TORY  ROBBERS.  109 

young  friends  were  soon  in  the  saddle, 
hastening  to  the  rendezvous.  It  is  need 
less  to  dwell  upon  the  events  which 
followed,  for  in  many  of  their  aspects  they 
became  of  almost  daily  occurrence.  The 
enemy  were  too  strong  to  permit  any 
thing  like  organized  resistance,  and  were 
also  inclined  to  be  savagely  vindictive. 
The  houses  and  barns  robbed  on  the  pre 
vious  day  were  burned,  and  other  planta 
tions  in  the  vicinity  pillaged  and  left  with 
blackened  ruins  to  show  where  once  had 
been  prosperous  homes.  The  partisans 
could  only  hover  around  seeking  oppor 
tunities  for  a  shot.  And  many,  too,  they 
found,  inflicting  no  little  loss ;  but  the 
enemy  were  out  in  such  force  that  there 
were  plenty  to  fight  while  others  plundered 
and  destroyed,  with  mutual,  dogged  persis 
tence.  It  so  happened  that  the  raid  swept 
away  from  the  Mclntire  place,  and  so  for 
a  time  it  escaped.  The  commander  of 
the  British  expedition  carried  out  his  pur 
poses,  and  retired  with  loaded  wagons, 
after  having  both  inflicted  and  sustained 
much  injury.  At  last  night  again  settled 


HO  TORY  ROBBERS. 

down  on  the  distracted  region  in  which 
were  the  dead,  the  dying,  the  homeless 
and  impoverished.  So  far  from  being 
cowed,  the  people  were  only  the  more  bit 
terly  hostile,  and  bent  upon  driving  the 
invaders  from  the  land. 

During  the  next  few  days  many  de 
serted  their  homes,  taking  their  families 
and  all  they  could  carry  away  farther  west 
and  north.  Angus  entreated  his  mother  to 
follow  this  example,  but  she  said  :  "  No; 
we  shall  stay  and  share  your  fortunes. 
If  any  thing  happens  to  you  or  Burton, 
Ella  and  I  shall  be  near  to  take  care  of 
you." 

Thus  it  happened  that  the  Mclntire 
plantation  became  a  sort  of  headquarters 
for  George  and  the  hardy  band  that 
speedily  gathered  around  him  and  Bur 
ton.  He  and  his  followers  did  not  cease 
to  help  in  punishing  the  foraging  parties, 
which  were  now  so  large  that  the  enraged 
inhabitants  could  do  little  else  than  annoy 
them.  These  marauds  in  search  of  pro 
visions  were  a  necessity  to  the  British 
commander,  and  could  not  be  prevented. 


TORY  ROBBERS.  Ill 

Meanwhile,  George  and  his  troop  hit 
upon  the  most  effectual  way  of  injuring 
the  enemy.  As  a  matter  of  course,  Gen 
eral  Cornwallis  must  keep  up  his  com 
munications  with  his  forces  and  officers 
in  South  Carolina.  Messengers  and  de 
tachments  were  therefore  constantly  com 
ing  and  going,  bearing  despatches.  With  a 
vigilance  hard  to  baffle  or  escape,  George 
and  his  band  often  pounced  upon  these 
messengers  and  cowboys,  capturing  pa 
pers  of  great  importance.  The  British 
commander  was  made  to  feel  insecure  in 
his  advanced  position  and  uncertain  in  re 
gard  to  what  was  occurring  in  his  rear. 
From  the  captured  despatches  and  other 
sources,  the  people  of  the  region  had 
learned  that  he  was  expecting  Colonel 
Ferguson,  with  a  large  force,  to  join  him 
at  Charlotte.  It  was  well-known  that  this 
force  was  composed  chiefly  of  Tories  of 
the  most  ruthless  and  blood-thirsty  char 
acter — men  well  versed  in  the  tactics  of 
Indian  warfare  and  at  the  same  time 
ready  to  commit  every  possible  outrage. 
They  had  even  been  known  to  destroy 


112  TORY  ROBBERS. 

the  entire  families  of  those  who  had  in 
curred  their  hatred.  What  wonder  then 
that  the  inhabitants,  already  so  hardly 
pressed,  felt  that  if  this  horde  came  in 
upon  them  from  the  south-west,  their 
country  would  be  made  a  desert  and  they 
be  driven  to  the  mountain'fastnesses,  where 
winter  and  perhaps  starvation  awaited 
them  ?  All  hearts  were  oppressed  with  a 
growing  and  terrible  dread,  and  mothers 
looked  upon  their  children  with  the  feeling 
that  it  had  been  better  if  they  had  never 
been  born.  In  our  days  of  happy  security 
it  is  impossible  to  realize  the  dangers  and 
awful  fears  which  beset  our  forefathers. 

One  evening  early  in  October,  a  dismal 
rainstorm  set  in,  hastening  the  gloom  of 
nightfall.  George  and  Burton,  with  their 
followers,  were  away  on  an  expedition,  and 
it  was  uncertain  when  they  would  return. 
Angus,  exhausted  and  almost  ill  from  a 
previous  foray,  had  remained  at  home  and 
had  been  sleeping  all  the  afternoon.  He 
was  awakened  by  hearing  rough  voices  in 
the  apartment  below. 

Mrs.  Mclntire  and  Ella,  while  prepar- 


TORY  ROBBERS.  113 

ing  supper,  were  rudely  interrupted.  The 
soft  muddy  ground  had  deadened  the  fall 
of  horses'  feet  and  the  entrance  of  three 
armed  men  was  the  first  intimation  of 
danger.  Even  the  dogs,  cowering  from 
the  storm  in  their  kennels,  had  not  heard 
the  stealthy  approach  of  the  ill-boding 
visitors.  Mrs.  Mclntire  started  and  trem 
bled  as  she  recognized  one  of  the  men 
— a  Tory  wretch  of  the  worst  type,  who 
had  lived  near  them,  but  who,  of  late, 
was  said  to  be  with  Ferguson's  ruthless 
horde. 

"  I  reckon  yer  know  me,  mistress,"  be 
gan  the  scoundrel,  "  and  if  yer  do,  yer 
know  I  hain't  one  ter  be  fooled  off  with 
words.  Give  us  some  supper  mighty  sud 
den.  Here,  Lem  and  Bill "  (to  his  com 
panions)  "  take  cheers  by  the  fire  and  make 
yerselves  ter  home.  Therejs  nothin'  ter 
be  afeard  on  in  this  Whig  roost.  Tarle- 
ton's  troopers  split  old  Mclntire's  crown, 
and  there's  n<?  one  left  but  the  woman 
and  her  brats.  "  Whar's  yer  boy  ?" 

"  He  is  away,"  she  replied,  not  hesitat 
ing  to  deceive  one  who  had  so  little  to 


114  TORY  ROBBERS. 

know  the  truth,  and  hoping  for  some 
chance  to  warn  her  son  to  escape. 

"  So  much  the  better  for  him.  Come, 
hurry  up  supper  and  be  civil  ef  yer  want 
us  ter  be  civil." 

"  O,  God,  keep  Angus  from  waking 
and  hearing,"  prayed  the  mother,  as  she 
tremblingly  tried  to  do  their  bidding. 
"  Ella,  go  to  your  room,"  she  added  aloud, 
"  I  can  do  all." 

"  No,"  interrupted  the  Tory,  insolently, 
"  let  her  stay  and  help.  We've  got 
nothin'  agin  havin'  purty  gals  around  or 
takin'  a  kiss  from  'em  either.  Hey  ! 
Lem,  hain't  I  speakin'  fer  the  meetin'  ?  " 

"  In  course.  We  wouldn't  mind  a  regi 
ment  of  gals  as  long  as  their  dads  and 
brothers  kep'  away.  But  don't  pester  the 
woman,  for  I'm  as  hungryas  a  bear.  We 
kin  do  our  kissen  arter  supper." 

In  the  cupboard,  from  which  Ella  took 
the  dishes,  was  hidden  the  pistol  which 
had  been  given  her,  and  the  spirited  girl 
felt  that  she  would  use  it  before  permit 
ting  the  touch  of  their  fpul  lips.  Then, 
seeing  how  heavily  they  were  armed,  she 


TORY  ROBBERS.  115 

tried  to  slip  out  that  she  might  warn 
Angus  and  not  have  him  rushing  down 
to  his  death.  Before  she  could  pass 
through  the  door  the  Tory  seized  her 
arm  and  dragged  her  back.  "  Yer  don't 
leave  this  room,"  he  said,  "  ter  go  trol- 
loping  off  ter  some  of  yer  Whig  neigh 
bors.  Do  as  we  say  and  yer  safe  enough. 
You  uns  must  give  us  a  good  supper  and 
all  the  money  and  silver-plate  yer  got  and 
we'll  ride  away  in  an  hour.  If  yer  play 
us  any  tricks  we'll  burn  yer  roost  over 
yer  heads." 

The  little  girls,  who  had  cowered  in  a 
corner  thus  far,  now  began  to  sob  aloud. 

"  Shut  up  !  "  shouted  the  Tory.  "  Do 
you  uns  think  we  want  ter  eat  with  sich 
caterwaulin'  in  our  ears.  Come,  fellers, 
set  to.  A  squar'  meal  is  fust  in  order. 
Stand  thar,  you  gal,  and  keep  away  from 
that  door.  Don't  be  sich  a  fool  as  to 
think  you  kin  git  away." 

Two  of  the  men  began  to  eat  with  the 
voracity  of  beasts  ;  but  the  Tory  con 
tinued  : 

"  Here,    mistress,    we     want     sump'n 


Il6  TORY  ROBBERS. 

stronger'n  coffee  to  wash  our  supper 
down.  Bring  out  yer  wine  or  rum  or 
whatever  yer  got." 

"  We  haven't  any  spirits,"  faltered  the 
woman,  justly  fearing  the  brutal  impulses 
of  such  men  when  under  the  influence  of 
liquor. 

"  Yes,  yer  have.  Get  it,  or  we'll  smash 
every  thing  'till  we  find  it  ourselves." 

"  I  won't  give  you  spirits,"  she  said, 
desperately. 

"  We'll  soon  find  out " 

At  this  moment  one  of  their  horses 
began  to  kick  and  neigh  furiously. 

"  Bill,  go  out  and  see  what  the  devil  is 
the  matter,"  the  Tory  ordered. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

THE    BATTLE    OF    THE    BEES. 

disturbance-  among  the  horses 
JL  had  an  adequate  cause,  as  can 
soon  be  explained.  The  first  impulse 
of  Angus,  after  awakening,  was  to  rush 
down  stairs,  but  before  he  carried  it  out, 
wise  second  thoughts  occurred  to  him. 
He  listened  long  enough  to  learn  the 
character  of  the  visitors,  then  slipped  on 
his  coat,  put  a  pistol  and  a  long  hunting 
knife  in  his  belt,  and,  with  his  loaded 
shot-gun,  stole  to  the  roof  of  the  back 
porch,  whence  descent  to  the  ground  was 
easy. 

The  night  was  very  dark,  but  familiarity 
with  the  place  enabled  him  to  steal  noise 
lessly  around  in  his  stocking  feet.  He 
was  soon  at  one  of  the  windows,  saw 
the  group  within,  and  listened  a  few 
moments  longer  to  what  the  ruffians  said. 


Il8  THE  BATTLE   OF   THE  BEES. 

Meanwhile  he  tried  to  think  of  some 
plan  of  action.  To  shoot  one  would  only 
bring  upon  the  family  the  worst  forms  of 
vengeance  from  the  other  two.  In  some 
way  he  must  seek  to  deal  with  each  one 
separately,  and,  for  a  few  moments,  was 
at  a  loss  what  to  do.  Then  the  light 
from  the  window  gave  him  a  glimpse  of 
the  horses  tied  to  the  low  branches  of  a 
neighboring  tree,  and  he  adopted  the 
only  expedient  of  which  he  could  think. 
Securing  a  very  heavy  club  he  went  to 
the  tree  and  leaned  his  gun  against  it. 
Then  he  pricked  a  horse  with  his  knife 
in  the  hope  that  but  one  of  the  men 
would  come  out  to  investigate.  The 
event,  as  we  have  seen,  justified  his 
expectation,  and,  standing  a  little  back 
in  the  darkness,  he  waited  with  his 
club. 

The  man  called  Bill  came  out,  groping, 
stumbling  and  swearing,  towards  the 
horses.  Angus,  whose  eyes  were  accus 
tomed  to  the  darkness,  watched  for  a 
favorable  moment,  then  delivered  the 
blow  with  all  his  force.  There  was  a 


THE  BATTLE  OF   THE  BEES.  H9 

heavy  thud,  the  man  fell  like  a  log  and 
lay  motionless. 

The  boy,  however,  had  no  idea  of 
trusting  to  the  chances  of  his  reviving, 
and,  with  straps  from  a  bridle,  bound 
him  hand  and  foot. 

The  plan  had  worked  so  well  that 
Angus  determined  to  try  it  again,  and 
soon  another  horse  was  plunging  and 
neighing  from  pain.  Both  the  ruffians 
now  sprang  from  the  table  with  loud 
oaths,  but  the  Tory  said,  "  You  go,  Lem, 
and  help  Bill,  and  I'll  watch  so  this  gal 
can't  steal  off  and  bring  a  lot  o'  Whigs 
down  on  us." 

"  What  in  thunder's  the  trouble,  Bill  ?  " 
shouted  Lem  from  the  door. 

"  Horse  throwed  himself  and  kicking 
the  others,"  replied  Angus,  trying  to  imi 
tate  the  gruff  voices  of  the  enemies. 
"  Come  and  help." 

"  Satan  must  be  to  play  to  change  yer 
voice  so  'mazingly." 

"  It's  full  o'  bacon,"  mumbled  Angus, 
grasping  his  club. 

The  man  approached  warily,  as  if  sus- 


120  THE  BATTLE   OF   THE  BEES. 

picious,  and  Angus  saw  the  gleam  of  a 
knife  in  his  right  hand  as  he  groped  his 
way  with  the  left.  "  Hang  it  all,  I'm 
goin'  ter  git  a  light,"  he  muttered. 

As  he  turned,  Angus  stepped  lightly 
forward  and  struck  him.  The  man  heard 
his  step  and  the  downward  rush  of  the 
bludgeon,  but  barely  had  time  to  put  up 
his  arm  instinctively  to  ward  off  the  blow. 
Although  his  arm  was  broken  and  his 
head  struck  with  such  force  as  to  fell  him 
to  the  earth,  he  had  time  to  utter  a  loud 
groan  before  the  boy  could  strike  him 
again. 

The  Tory  heard  the  groan,  rushed  to 
the  door  and  shouted,  "  Bill,  Lem,  what's 
up?" 

He  only  heard  the  sound  of  some  one 
moving  swiftly.  It  was  Angus  getting 
his  gun.  The  boy  was  naturally  wary, 
and,  under  the  teaching  of  hard  experi 
ence  and  the  training  of  George,  had 
learned  to  take  every  precaution.  Fear 
ing  that  the  priming  might  have  been 
dampened  by  the  storm  and  that  his  gun 
would  miss  fire,  he  continued  his  fleet 


THE  BATTLE  OF   THE  BEES.  12 1 

steps  around  to  the  back  of  the  house 
and  slipped  the  collar  from  a  large,  sav 
age  dog,  saying,  "  Back,  Wolf,  back. 
Follow  close." 

The  Tory  had  called  to  his  confeder 
ates  again  and  again  ;  enraged  and  per 
plexed  at  receiving  no  reply,  he  jumped 
to  the  conclusion  that  the  horses  had  been 
turned  loose,  that  his  confederates  were 
following  them,  and  that  Lem  had  groaned 
from  striking  something  in  the  dark. 
Men  in  their  situation  know  that  losing 
their  horses  may  easily  cost  them  their 
lives.  In  his  fear  and  anger  he  turned  on 
Mrs.  Mclntire,  and  with  an  oath  ex 
claimed,  "There's  some  cursed  treachery 
goin'  on." 

"I  don't  know  what  you  mean,"  she 
faltered. 

"  Yer  will  in  a  minute,"  and  whipping 
out  a  long  knife,  he  seized  her  by  the 
throat  and  demanded,  "  Who  was  out 
there,  runnin'  off  the  hosses?" 

Seeing  the  ruffian's  grasp  on  her 
mother's  throat  and  his  threatening  knife, 
Ella  hesitated  no  longer.  Snatching  her 


122  THE  BATTLE   OF  THE  BEES. 

pistol,  she  leveled  it  at  his  head  and  cried, 
"  Back !  take  your  hand  from  my  mother, 
or  I'll  fire." 

At  this  instant  Angus  appeared  at  the 
door.  "  Drop  your  weapons  or  you're  a 
dead  man,"  he  shouted. 

The  Tory  was  appalled  for  a  moment, 
but  inured  to  danger  and  bloodshed,  he 
did  not  lose  his  hardihood.  Thinking  his 
companions  to  be  not  far  off,  his  one 
object  was  to  gain  time.  He  now  believed 
that  the  boy  had  merely  turned  the  horses 
loose.  That  Angus  had  disabled  two 
strong  men  without  a  sound  of  a  struggle 
did  not  enter  his  mind.  With  a  sullen 
"  Oho  ! "  he  began,  "  So  you're  the  imp 
that's  been  playin'  the  mischief  with  the 
hosses.  Come,  my  young  cockerel,  don't 
yergityerself  and  folks  inter  trouble  with 
that  shootin'-iron.  Yer'd  better  listen  ter 
reason  and  keep  a  house  over  yer " 

"  Drop  your  weapons  or  I'll  shoot,"  the 
boy  again  shouted. 

Indeed  he  would  have  fired  at  once  had 
not  the  cunning  villain  stood  in  a  line  with 
Mrs.  Mclntire. 


THE  BATTLE   OF   THE  BEES.  123 

"  Stand  aside,  mother,"  cried   Angus. 

Ella,  now  that  her  brother  appeared, 
was  momentarily  off  her  guard,  and  the 
wary  eye  of  the  Tory  observed  the  fact. 
With  a  singularly  quick  movement  he 
struck  her  arm  a  blow  which  sent  the 
pistol  flying  from  her  hand,  then  threw 
his  arms  around  her  and  held  her  in  front 
of  him  before  the  boy's  leveled  weapon. 
"  Now  shoot  ef  you  dare,  yer  blasted 
Whig  brat, "he  snarled,  and  then  shouted, 
11  Lem,  Bill,  here  quick.  Knock  this  boy 
on  the  head.  I'll  put  my  knife  inter  yer 
sister  ef  yer  don't  clar  out  with  that  gun." 

Crouching  behind  Angus  was  the  great 
black  dog,  and  now  the  boy  stood  aside 
and  said,  "  In  and  at  him,  Wolf." 

The  huge  dog  sprang  forward  with  a 
savage  growl  ;  the  Tory  tried  for  one 
bewildered  moment  to  keep  the  girl  in 
front  of  him,  but  the  dog  seized  him  by 
the  arm  and  Ella  broke  away.  Wolf  then 
leaped  for  his  throat,  but  the  Tory  sprang 
backward  and  was  about  to  strike  the 
animal  with  his  knife,  when  there  was  a 
flash,  a  loud  report,  and  the  room  was  full 


124  THE  BATTLE  OF   THE  BEES. 

of  smoke.  As  it  cleared  a  little  they  saw 
the  dog  shaking  the  Tory's  lifeless  form. 

Mrs.  Mclntire  rushed  to  her  son's  arms 
and  shrieked,  "  The  other  men  will  come 
and  kill  you." 

"  No,  mother,"  he  said,  grimly,  "  I've 
settled  with  them,  too,  but  must  make 
sure  of  it.  Stop  your  screaming,  chil 
dren  ;  there's  no  more  danger.  Come, 
Wolf." 

There  was  a  sound  of  galloping  horses 
in  the  lane,  and  Burton's  whistle  revived 
Ella,, who  was  almost  fainting.  A  mo 
ment  later  she  was  sobbing  in  her  lover's 
arms. 

"  Merciful  heaven  !  Gus,  what's  hap 
pened?"  cried  George,  riding  to  the  ve 
randa  steps  and  looking  within. 

"  Well,"  said  the  boy,  brokenly,  and 
sitting  down,  "  I  reckon  you  may  well 
speak  of  merciful  heaven.  If  you  hadn't 
come  I  could  have  held  out  a  little  longer, 

but you  must  give  me  time,"  and  he 

sank  exhausted  and  faint  on  the  steps. 

Mrs.  Mclntire  was  at  his  side  in  a 
moment  with  a  glass  of  wine.  "  Have 


THE  BATTLE   OF    THE  BEES.  125 

patience,  George,"  she  said.  "  There 
were  two  other  men.  What  Angus  could* 
have  done  to  them " 

"  There,  there,"  said  the  boy,  "  it'll  pass 
in  a  moment.  Why  the  mischief  do  I 
have  to  act  like  a  baby  at  such  times ! 
Get  a  light  and  see  what  you'll  find  by 
that  tree  yonder." 

The  two  unconscious  Tories  were  found 
barely  breathing,  for  the  boy  had  brought 
down  the  heavy  club  with  all  the  strength 
which  terror  inspires.  Explanations  were 
soon  given  and  the  whole  band  gathered 
around  Angus  with  the  heartiest  plaudits. 

"  Oh  !  shut  up,"  said  the  boy  irritably. 
"  I  can't  stand  any  more  to-night. 
Mother  and  the  girls  are  safe  and  that's 
enough." 

"  Here,  George,"  cried  Burton,  "  let  us 
pitch  this  carrion  out,"  indicating  the 
Tory's  body.  "  Why,  it's  Rufe  Hackett, 
one  of  the  bloodiest  Tories  in  the  State." 

"Hold  on,  Burton,"  said  George,  ex 
citedly,  "  Hackett,  did  you  say?  Why, 
he  was  with  Ferguson.  As  I  live,  I  be 
lieve  he  was  sent  with  despatches  to 


126  THE  BATTLE   OF   THE  BEES. 

Cornwallis,  because  he  knew  the  country 
so  well.  Here,  two  of  you  men,  carry 
him  out  on  the  veranda  where  Mrs.  Mc- 
Intire  and  the  girls  can't  see  him,  for  he 
must  be  searched  thoroughly." 

George's  surmise  was  correct.  De 
spatches  of  vital  importance  were  found 
stitched  in  the  lining  of  his  shirt.  Fer 
guson  had  written  plainly  of  the  hostile 
forces  closing  upon  him  and  of  his  urgent 
need  of  help.  It  need  not  be  said  that 
Cornwallis  never  received  those  de 
spatches,  and  that  the  essential  aid  was 
never  sent.  How  the  hardy  moun 
taineers  smote  the  British  and  the  Tory 
horde  and  killed  their  leader  is  one  of  the 
best  known  chapters  of  Southern  history. 
The  British  commander  did  hear  of  the 
overwhelming  disaster,  and  was  not  long 
in  deciding  that  he  had  better  leave  the 
"hornets'  nest"  of  Charlotte  and  its 
vicinity  as  soon  as  possible. 

Mrs.  Mclntire,  her  household  and  her 
brave  partisan  friends,  quieted  down  in 
time  and  obtained  sorely  needed  rest. 
The  two  prisoners  whom  Angus  had  dis- 


THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  BEES.  12J 

abled  recovered  eventually,  and  were 
then  tried  by  a  rude,  secret  court-martial, 
condemned  and  shot;  George  and  oth 
ers  saying  sternly,  "We  shall  permit  no 
Tory  outrages  in  this  county." 

Every  day  added  to  the  embarrass 
ment  of  the  British  commander  at  Char 
lotte  ;  every  ruthless  maraud  to  procure 
supplies  increased  the  anger  and  hate  of 
the  surrounding  people.  The  country 
had  been  ravaged  far  and  near,  and  yet 
the  Mclntire  plantation  had  as  yet  es 
caped.  It  was  not  very  accessible,  but 
eventually  reports  that  a  partisan  band 
had  made  it  a  sort  of  headquarters,  drew 
attention  to  the  place,  and  to  the  hope  of 
plunder  was  added  the  desire  to  punish 
those  who  had  won  the  reputation  of 
making  much  trouble.  George  and  his 
followers  had  been  very  wary,  and  there 
were  few  in  that  region  who  would  in 
form  against  them.  The  British  author- 
ites,  therefore,  had  no  clear  idea  of  the 
force  which  might  be  found  in  the  region, 
and  deemed  it  prudent  to  send  with  the 
forage  wagons  an  escort  of  four  hundred 


128  THE  BATTLE   OF   THE  BEES. 

men.  They  started  before  light  in  the 
morning  and  moved  rapidly  and  quietly, 
in  the  hope  of  effecting  a  surprise. 
While  they  almost  succeeded  in  this 
respect,  they  were  treated  to  several 
rather  surprising  experiences  themselves 
before  the  day  was  over. 

George  and  his  men  had  returned  the 
night  before  from  a  long  and  fatiguing 
ride,  and  were  sleeping  heavily  well  back 
in  their  forest  shelter.  Angus  had 
watched  at  the  farm-house  until  dawn  be 
gan  to  brighten  and  then  had  been  joined 
by  Ella,  who  said  that  she  and  her  mother 
would  be  vigilant  while  getting  break 
fast.  The  tired  boy  was  only  too  glad 
to  be  relieved,  and  was  soon  in  deep 
slumber.  The  sun  rose  brightly,  adding 
to  the  golden  hues  of  the  autumnal  foli 
age.  The  morning  was  so  quiet  and 
genial  that  it  was  hard  to  entertain 
thoughts  of  danger,  and  Ella,  whose 
heart,  in  spite  of  its  sorrows  and  fears, 
would  persist  in  being  light,  was  singing 
at  her  tasks.  For  a  brief  time  she  forgot 
the  need  of  watchfulness,  then,  recalling 


THE  BATTLE   OF   THE  BEES.  129 

her  duty,  stepped  out  on  the  veranda. 
To  her  horror  she  saw  a  large  British 
force  not  far  distant,  rapidly  approach 
ing.  The  enemy,  during  the  latter  part 
of  the  march,  had  been  guided  through  a 
wood-road,  which  had  concealed  the  move 
ment. 

"  O,  mother  !  "  cried  the  terror-stricken 
girl.  "  See  !  What  shall  we  do  ?  " 

Mrs.  Mclntire  gave  but  one  startled 
glance,  then  said  firmly,  "  Take  the  little 
girls  and  fly  to  the  woods — to  George 
Graham  and  Burton.  I  will  follow  with 
Angus.  Leave  every  thing — run." 

Ella  obeyed,  while  her  mother  almost 
dragged  Angus  from  his  bed.  Fortu 
nately  he  was  dressed,  and  but  one  swift 
glance  through  the  window  convinced  him 
that  he  must  yield  to  his  mother.  Snatch 
ing  his  weapons,  he  had  barely  time  to 
escape  with  her  through  the  rear  door  to 
the  shelter  of  the  low  pines,  before  the 
British  entered  the  yard  about  the 
house. 

With  the  fleet  steps  of  fawns,  Ella  and 
her  little  sisters  sped  deeper  and  deeper 


130  THE  BATTLE    OF  THE  BEES. 

in  the  forest  until  challenged  by  a  startled 
and  sleepy  sentinel. 

"  Take  me  to  Burton — to  George  Gra 
ham,"  she  said  breathlessly.  "  The  house 
is  attacked." 

Burton  sprung  from  his  leafy  couch  in 
stantly  at  the  sound  of  Ella's  voice.  In  a 
moment  George  and  the  others  were  on 
their  feet  and  around  the  girl.  An  in 
stant  later  they  were  swiftly  on  the  way 
to  rescue  Angus  and  his  mother,  or  to 
cover  their  retreat.  The  speedy  appear 
ance,  however,  of  the  fugitives  brought 
immense  relief,  and  then  was  held  a  hasty 
council  of  war.  The  result  of  this  was 
that  Mrs.  Mclntire,  Ella  and  the  children 
were  sent  deep  into  the  forest  to  a  secure 
refuge,  while  George  and  his  little  band, 
of  which  only  eleven  were  present  that 
morning,  were  stealing  with  wary,  noise 
less  approach  upon  the  marauders.  They 
glided  from  tree  to  tree,  thicket,  and 
copse,  until  at  last,  unperceived,  they 
were  concealed  among  the  low  pjnes  not 
far  from  the  house. 

The  British  officer   commanding    had 


THE  BATTLE   OF   THE  BEES.  13! 

• 

found  the  place  deserted,  for  the  negroes 
also  had  fled.  He  concluded  that  if  men 
had  been  lurking  about  the  place  they 
were  either  absent,  or,  frightened  by  the 
largeness  of  his  force,  had  fled  with  the 
family.  The  low  pines  and  immediate 
forest  were  instantly  searched,  but  with 
out  revealing  either  fugitives  or  concealed 
enemies.  The  partisans  had  not  yet 
approached.  Taught  by  harsh  experi 
ence,  however,  the  British  captain  in 
command  resolved  to  load  his  wagons 
and  depart  speedily,  fearing  that  on  his 
return  he  would  hear  the  familiar  crack 
of  deadly  rifles  from  foes  who  would  not 
be  long  in  gathering.  Ordering  his  men 
to  use  despatch  in  sacking  the  house  and 
outbuildings,  and  in  gathering  up  the 
cattle,  he  coolly  sat  down,  with  some  of 
his  subordinates,  to  the  breakfast  which 
had  not  been  prepared  for  them. 

The  British  soldiers  needed  no  urging, 
for,  while  they  were  greedy  for  plunder, 
they  knew  the  price  in  blood  usually  paid 
for  it,  and  were  anxious  to  return  before  the 
people  of  the  region  had  time  to  gather. 


13*  THE  BATTLE   OF  THE  BEES. 

When,  therefore,  the  partisans  drew 
sufficiently  near  to  observe  what  was  tak 
ing  place,  the  wagons  were  being  rapidly 
loaded  and  the  place  was  dismantled. 
^•George  saw  that  the  English  force  was 
Jarge,  compact,  and  alert,  that  the  fire 
from  his  small  band  could  not  prevent  the 
mischief,  and  might  lead  to  the  immediate 
burning  of  the  dwelling.  So,  in  the  hope 
of  saving  this,  he  directed  his  men  to 
remain  quiet  until  the  marauding  party 
was  well  away  from  the  place. 

The  fact  that  they  were  not  interfered 
with,  and  that  no  enemies  were  seen  hov- 
'ering  in  the  distance,  so  far  from  creating 
^confidence,  began  to  cause  uneasiness  in 
the  British  force.  It  was  feared  that  the 
Whigs  were  preparing  to  strike  a  heavy 
blow  on  the  homeward  march.  Accord 
ingly  the  crowded  door-yard  was  full  of 
bustle  and  activity.  Men  were  carrying 
bedding,  furniture  and  provisions  from  the 
house,  and  forage  and  grain  from  the 
barns.  Cattle  were  bellowing,  pigs  squeal 
ing,  and  chased  chickens  adding  to  the 
Babel-like  uproar.  The  men  also,  with  the 


THE  BATTLE  OF  THE   BEES.  133 

recklessness  of  soldiers,  did  not  scruple  to 
laugh,  jest  and  chaff  each  other,  although 
aware  that  the  light  of  another  day  might 
never  gladden  their  eyes. 

Angus  was  white  with  rage  and  indig 
nation  as,  peering  through  a  thick  pine, 
he  saw  the  havoc.  He  recognized  every 
familiar  article  that  was  carried  to  the 
wagons,  every  animal  that  was  slaugh 
tered,  and  knew  well  how  terribly  impover 
ished  they  all  would  be.  Yet  he  suffered 
the  deepest  pang  when  the  faithful  dog, 
Wolf,  was  bayoneted,  and  involuntarily 
his  rifle  was  raised  to  shoot  the  man  who 
gave  the  thrust.  George's  hand  upon  his 
arm  restrained  him. 

"  Be  patient,  Gus,"  said  his  friend.  "  I 
know  it's  hard,  but  they  shall  pay  for  this. 
Ah  !  what's  up  now  ?  " 

There  seemed  to  be  sudden  and  dire 
confusion  among  the  British  soldiers,  and 
some  of  the  horses  began  to  kick  and 
plunge  so  violently  as  to  be  scarcely  man 
ageable.  The  confusion  extended  like  a 
contagion :  men  ran  from  a  certain  point, 
covered  their  faces  with  their  arms  or 


134  THE  BATTLE   OF   THE  BEES. 

hats,  and  danced  around  as  if  in  sudden 
pain. 

"  By  all  that's  lucky  ! "  whispered  Angus, 
"they've  upset  a  bee-hive." 

"  Oh,  isn't  that  rich  ! "  said  Burton, 
shaking  with  suppressed  laughter. 
"  George,  George,  the  bees  have  begun 
the  battle;  let  us  sting  the  robbers  also." 

"  Wait,  wait  a  moment,"  said  George, 
too  anxious  and  eager  even  to  smile  in 
his  responsibility,  but  keenly  observant. 
"  This  is  giving  the  affair  a  new  aspect. 
Perhaps  we  had  better  join  our  friends, 
the  bees." 

But  the  enraged  insects  waited  not  for 
help.  Their  excitement  extended  to  the 
neighboring  hives,  and  increasing  swarms 
poured  out,  each  armed  with  a  poisoned 
weapon.  The  British  troops  had  ho 
armor,  no  means  of  defence,  and  the  antics 
of  those  stung  and  of  othe'rs  seeking  to 
avoid  their  swiftly  darting  foes  were  so 
very  absurd  that  the  partisans,  with 
difficulty,  restrained  a  merriment  which 
would  have  revealed  their  presence.  The 
British  captain  stood  in  the  doorway  of 


THE  BATTLE   OF   THE  BEES.  13$ 

the  house,  endeavoring  to  give  orders, 
but  was  so  convulsed  wiui  laughter  at 
the  plight  of  his  men  that  for  a  mo 
ment  he  too  was  almost  helpless.  A 
great,  red-faced,  burly  sergeant  who  had 
charge  of  the  wagon  train,  had  slipped 
into  the  house,  after  his  superiors  had 
breakfasted,  for  a  cup  of  coffee.  Catch 
ing  a  glimpse,  through  the  window,  of 
the  disorder  among  his  men  and  horses, 
arid  ignorant  of  the  cause,  he  rushed  out 
in  a  towering  rage  with  his  heavy  whip 
into  the  very  centre  of  the  "  busy  bees." 
They  appeared  to  regard  him  as  the  au 
thor  of  the  whole  disturbance,  and  acted 
accordingly.  His  oaths  and  expostulations 
were  arrested  abruptly.  Three  or  four 
stings  pierced  his  coppery  nose,  and  he 
clapped  his  hands  over  it  with  something 
like  a  howl.  Then  a  perfect  swarm  at 
tacked  him  in  the  rear,  and  again  his 
hands  sought  to  protect  the  parts  assailed, 
while  he  yelled  some  incoherent  order. 
At  this  instant  a  headlong  bee  flew  into 
his  open  mouth  and  stung  promiscuously. 
The  poor  wretch,  to  the  immense  amuse- 


136  THE  BATTLE   OF   THE  BEES. 

ment  of  those  looking  on  from  a  safe  dis 
tance,  fairly  began  to  dance  a  hornpipe 
in  his  anguish.  Yet  the  situation  grew 
momently  more  serious.  The  British 
troops  in  a  widening  circle  were  in  disor 
der,  while  the  horses  attached  to  the 
wagons  were  plunging  frantically. 

At  this  critical  moment  orders  from 
George  changed  the  scene  from  comedy 
to  tragedy.  Passing  along  his  little  line, 
he  said  in  a  low  voice,  "  Take  deliberate 
aim  ;  pick  out  officers  if  possible.  I  shall 
shoot  the  captain.  Fire  when  I  do." 

A  moment  later  there  was  a  ringing 
volley ;  the  captain  dropped  on  the 
veranda  before  his  men  ;  nine  others  fell 
and  two  horses  went  down. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

PARTING  BLOWS  AND  WEDDING  BUGLES. 

THE  effect  of  the  fatal  volley  fired  by 
George  and  his  followers  astonished 
the  partisans  beyond  measure.  They 
fully  expected  that  a  rush  would  be  made 
for  them,  and,  anticipating  this,  all  retired 
rapidly  into  the  woods,  that  they  might 
have  time  to  reload.  Finding  that  they 
were  not  followed,  they  cautiously  re 
turned,  and  soon  discovered  the  British 
troops  in  rapid  retreat.  The  wagon  con 
taining  most  of  the  household  articles  was 
abandoned,  for  the  horses  attached  to  it 
had  been  shot.  Detailing  Angus,  Burton 
and  two  or  three  others  to  look  after  the 
house  and  family,  George  and  the  rest 
were  soon  mounted  and  following  the  for 
aging  party. 

The  stinging   bees   had  caused    much 
disorder  in  the   British  force  ;    and  when 


138     PARTING  BLOWS— WEDDING  BUGLES. 

its  commander,  two  of  his  subordinates, 
and  some  of  the  men  were  slain,  a  feeling 
of  alarm,  approaching  to  panic,  ensued. 
There  had  been  an  uneasy  sense  of  dan 
ger  in  the  air,  and  George,  by  his  tactics, 
had  unconsciously  enhanced  it.  More 
over,  the  vicinity  of  the  dwelling  had  be 
come  unendurable.  Honey-bees  are  capa 
ble  of  becoming  as  "  mad"  as  the  "  hornets" 
with  which  the  region  became  so  famously 
associated,  and  in  this  instance  they  ren 
dered  most  valuable  assistance.  In  fact 
they  bundled  the  British  troops  out  of  that 
yard  more  quickly  than  a  position  was  ever 
evacuated  before.  The  officer  on  whom 
the  command  devolved  gave  directions 
for  a  rapid  retreat  to  Charlotte,  and 
never  were  orders  obeyed  with  more 
alacrity.  After  starting  he  remembered 
that  the  house  had  not  been  burned,  and 
he  sent  back  a  few  men  to  perform  this 
act  of  vengeance.  The  squad  returned 
very  reluctantly.  As  they  approached 
the  dwelling,  the  bees  assailed  them  with 
such  concentrated  fury,  that  they  fled 
without  accomplishing  their  purpose. 


PA  R  TING  BL  0  WS—  WEDDING  B  UGLES.      1 3  9 

Meanwhile  the  news  of  the  maraud 
had  spread,  and  the  men  and  older  boys 
of  the  region,  as  usual,  were  flocking  to 
the  line  of  march.  George  eventually 
had  a  respectable  force  in  hand,  and", 
following  on  flank  and  rear,  he  hounded 
the  British  party  almost  to  the  suburbs  of 
Charlotte. 

It  was  very  evident  that  nothing  more 
was  to  be  feared  from  the  invaders  that 
day,  and  Angus  and  Burton  soon  posted 
off  to  reassure  Mrs.  Mclntire  and  Ella, 
and  to  conduct  them,  wkh  the  children, 
back  to  their  home.  They  were  so 
thankful  to  find  it  unburned,  and  its 
defenders  unharmed,  that  no  time  was 
spent  in  regret  over  its  wild  disorder. 
The  abandoned  wagon  contained  most  of 
the  articles  of  which  it  had  been  despoiled, 
and  after  the  bees  quieted  down,  Angus 
and  Burton  restored  them  to  their  places. 
That  which  had  been  carried  off  was  a 
trifling  loss  compared  with  the  safety  of 
the  dwelling  itself,  or  any  of  its  inmates. 

Many  of  the  chickens  had  escaped,  and 
so  had  a  large  proportion  of  the  pigs, 


14°     PAR  TING  BL 0  WS—  WEDDING  B  UGLES. 

which,  at  that  season,  ran  almost  wild  in 
the  woods.  The  horses  and  cattle  about 
the  barn  had  been  taken,  but  there  were 
others  in  distant  fields,  and  the  steed 
which  Angus  rode  was  picketed  with 
others  belonging  to  the  band  well  back 
in  the  forest.  Therefore,  while  Mrs. 
Mclntire  had  suffered  serious  loss,  and 
a  severe  shock  from  anxiety  and  alarm, 
she  had  fared,  thanks  to  the  bees  and  her 
partisan  friends,  far  better  than  many  of 
her  neighbors.  With  the  aid  of  Angus 
and  Burton,  Ella  prepared  another  and  a 
famous  breakfast,  and  when  George  and 
his  party  returned  they  were  feasted  to 
their  heart's  content. 

First  as  rumor,  then  as  glad  certainty, 
the  news  of  the  battle  of  King's  Moun 
tain,  the  death  of  Ferguson,  and  the  cap 
ture  of  his  threatening  force,  spread 
rapidly.  There  was  general  and  heart 
felt  rejoicing  among  the  the  people,  and 
gloom  and  dismay  in  the  British  army. 
Cornwallis  found  that  the  country  would 
no  longer  support  his  troops,  and  that 
such  provisions  as  were  obtained  must  be 


PAR  TING  BLO  WS—  WEDDING  B  UGLES.      1 4 1 

paid  for  in  an  ever-increasing  price  of 
blood.  His  communications  with  the 
South  were  threatened,  and  only  the 
largest  convoys  of  despatches  and  supplies 
came  through  in  safety.  Seven  days  after 
the  battle,  which  turned  the  whole  tide  of 
Southern  warfare,  he  began  in  the  night  his 
confused  and  hurried  retreat.  The  people 
were  hoping,  expecting,  praying,  for  this 
event.  They  did  all  in  their  power  to 
hasten  it  by  their  bitter  and  unrelenting 
hostility,  and  when  it  took  place  they 
acted. 

George  and  his  followers  had  deter 
mined  to  take  such  a  final  leave  of  their 
foes  as  would  not  be  forgotten.  He  and 
other  partisan  leaders  in  the  vicinity  were 
in  secret  communication  with  Charlotte, 
impatiently  awaiting  their  opportunity. 
On  the  evening  of  the  fourteenth  of  Oc 
tober  one  of  his  scouts  came  galloping  in 
with  the  joyful  tidings  that  the  British 
were  evidently  preparing  to  decamp 
that  night.  Angus  and  Burton  instantly 
darted  off  to  an  eminence  not  far  from 
the  house,  and  soon  two  separate  and  dis- 


142     PAR  TING  BLO  WS—  WEDDING  B  UGLES. 

tinct  bonfires  were  blazing.  Their  torch 
seemed  to  kindle  numerous  other  beacons 
as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  until  they 
appeared  no  larger  than  stars  on  the  hori 
zon.  By  these  fires  the  hopes  of  the 
people  throughout  the  region  were  kindled. 
Possibly,  on  the  morrow,  those  now  hiding 
in  forests  might  return  to  such  homes  as 
were  left  to  them,  and  others  begin  to  re 
build  from  blackened  ruins  a  new  shelter 
from  wintry  storms  already  near. 

But  the  blazing  beacons  had  a  more 
immediate  significance.  Every  man  and 
boy  who  had  a  weapon  and  could  use  it 
was  expected  to  turn  out  now  with  the 
stern  purpose  of  giving  the  invaders  one 
more  proof  that  the  "Hornets'  Nest" 
was  no  place  for  marauding  foreign  sol 
diery.  The  moonlight  revealed  groops 
at  every  farmhouse  door  ;  men  were  seen 
saddling,  mounting  and  saying  farewell 
in  hot  haste.  Lonely  roads  echoed  to 
the  swift  tread  of  horses'  feet.  Singly, 
in  twos,  threes  and  dozens  the  hard  riders 
concentrated  towards  Charlotte.  Slung 
across  the  back  of  each  gleamed  the  long 


PAR  TING  BL  0 IV S—  WEDDING  B  UGLES.      1 43 

deadly  rifle  barrel.  Those  who  had  no 
mount  pursued  short  cuts  through  fields 
and  paths  in  forests  to  the  same  objec 
tive  point. 

Cornwallis  saw  the  ominous  signs  of 
coming  trouble  and  hastened  his  depart 
ure.  The  movement  was  not  a  quiet 
and  orderly  retirement,  but  a  retreat  be 
gun  and  conducted  in  dire  confusion.  It 
might  have  been  a  disastrous  rout  had 
the  hardy  mountaineers  who  defeated 
Ferguson  hung  upon  his  rear  and  flanks 
that  night.  As  it  was,  the  unorganized 
populace  of  the  county  inflicted  serious 
injury  and  gave  his  lordship  such  a  dis 
taste  for  the  region  that  neither  he  nor 
any  other  officer  ever  led  a  British  force 
thither  again. 

George  with  his  followers,  now  number 
ing  nearly  two  score,  hung  close  upon  the 
British  rear,  ready,  like  hawks,  to  swoop 
upon  their  prey.  His  thoughts  followed 
a  wagon  train,  carrying  the  baggage  and 
supplies  of  the  army.  It  was  heavily 
guarded,  and  there  was  no  use  of  making 
any  attempt  upon  it  as  long  as  the  country 


1 44     PAR  TING  BL  0  WS—  WEDDING  B  UGLES. 

remained  somewhat  open,  and  permitted 
its  escort  to  see  its  assailants.  He  knew, 
however,  that  before  very  long  it  would 
have  to  enter  a  timbered  region  traversed 
by  a  narrow  road,  and  he  laid  his  plans 
accordingly.  Burton  was  directed  to  take 
command  of  the  main  body  of  the  parti 
sans,  to  follow  the  rear-guard  as  closely 
as  he  dared,  to  keep  up  a  galling  fire  and 
so  increase  the  disposition  of  the  British 
troops,  already  strong,  to  get  ahead  as 
fast  as  possible.  If  they  showed  any  signs 
of  giving  way,  he  was  to  charge  them. 
Then  with  Angus  and  a  dozen  others 
George  made  a  rapid  detour,  struck  a 
wood-road  in  the  forest,  and  cautiously, 
yet  swiftly,  approached  the  wagon  train 
somewhat  in  the  rear  of  its  centre.  He 
and  his  men  were  lost  in  the  shadows  of 
the  dense  pines,  which  sighed  mournfully 
in  the  night  wind,  as  if  presaging  the 
bloody  scenes  soon  to  be  enacted.  While 
the  partisans  were  hidden,  the  lumbering 
wagon  train  was  seen  passing  on  the  road 
in  dim  outline. 

"  Gus,"  he  said,  "you  and  Eph  Tom- 


PA R  TING  BL O  IV S—  WEDDING  B  UGLES.      1 45 

kins  shoot  two  of  the  horses  and  stop  the 
train.  The  rest  of  us  will  then  act  ac 
cording  to  circumstances." 

The  drivers  were  urging  the  horses  to 
the  utmost,  feeling  that  every  foot  of 
progress  was  so  much  gained  in  the  race 
for  safety.  A  general  sense  of  apprehen 
sion,  enhanced  by  the  hurried  night  de 
parture,  pervaded  every  mind.  The  bea 
con  fires,  the  frequent  rifle  reports  in  the 
distance,  added  also  to  the  alarm  of  the 
infantry  who  walked  beside  the  wagons. 
Therefore,  when  out  of  the  deep  gloom 
of  the  adjoining  forest,  leaped  two  flashes 
and  horses  fell,  stopping  two  wagons,  the 
immediate  escort,  recalling  much  bitter 
experience,  began  to  fear  the  worst. 

An  officer  rushed  up  and  ordered  a 
charge  in  the  direction  of  the  shots.  He 
had  scarcely  spoken  before  he  fell  under 
a  bullet  from  George's  rifle.  Then  a 
brave  sergeant  sprang  forward,  crying, 
"  Follow  me."  Under  his  example  many 
rushed  after  him. 

"  Six  steps  forward  and  give  'em  a 
volley  ;  then  all  scatter,"  George  ordered. 


146     PAR  TING  BLO  WS—  WEDDING  B  UGLES. 

The  sergeant  and  two  or  three  of  his 
men  went  down.  Then  the  woods  rang 
with  a  score  of  shots  from  the  British 
infantry,  but  the  dusky,  flying  forms  in 
the  distance  presented  no  target. 

Pressed  upon  by  Burton  and  his  con 
stantly  increasing  band,  the  rear  cavalry 
guard  had,  unconsciously,  drawn  nearer 
and  nearer  the  train.  In  the  breast  of 
each  man  was  a  secret  impulse  to  get 
away  from  a  region,  so  full  of  hostility 
and  danger,  and  this  impulse  had  the 
effect  of  quickening  the  retreat.  When, 
therefore,  the  firing  caused  by  George 
and  his  followers  was  heard,  the  com 
manding  officer  found  it  easy  to  believe 
that  it  was  his  duty  to  advance  rapidly 
to  the  point  of  attack.  His  order  "  Trot, 
march  ! "  was  gladly  obeyed. 

Other  orders  were  given,  however,  on 
which  they  had  not  counted.  Burton, 
keenly  on  the  alert,  also  heard  the  firing 
and  saw  the  quick  forward  movement  of 
the  dragoons  before  him.  Instantly  came 
his  shout,  "  Into  the  road,  flankers. 
Those  who  have  sabres  to  the  front. 


PAR  TING  BLO  WS—  WEDDING  B  UGLES.      147 

March    four    abreast.      Yell    like    cata 
mounts  ;  charge ! " 

Away  they  went,  his  thirty  odd  men 
making  noise  enough  for  a  hundred, 
The  British  dragoons  were  appalled  at 
this  sudden  and  apparently  organized 
attack  upon  their  rear.  It  did  not  indi 
cate  the  helter-skelter  pursuit  of  raw 
recruits,  but  rather  the  action  of  trained 
Continental  cavalry  of  unknown  numbers. 
There  was  no  chance,  no  time  to  investi 
gate  in  the  narrow  road,  and  by  such 
light  as  was  given  by  the  moon.  The 
firing  and  confusion  in  front  were  also 
increasing.  After  momentary  hesitation 
the  rear-guard  gave  way  to  panic,  which 
spread  like  wildfire  to  the  infantry  escort. 
One  and  all  fled  forward  or  dashed  into 
the  forest  to  escape  the  furious  onset  of 
the  partisans.  Some  were  cut  down, 
others  surrendered.  Still  more  escaped 
through  the  woods,  while  the  majority, 
by  dint  of  hoof  and  foot,  reached  the 
heavy  British  support,  which  was  sent 
back  to  repel  the  attack.  Burton,  how 
ever,  had  attained  his  wish,  and  enjoyed 


148     PAR  TING  BL  0  WS—  WEDDING  B  UGLES. 

the  wild  excitement  of  riding  "straight 
at  his  enemies,  sabre  in  hand." 

It  will  be  remembered  that  it  had  been 
George's  tactics  to  cut  the  wagon  train  in 
two.  At  the  point  where  the  first  two 
horses  had  been  shot,  he  and  his  followers 
kept  up  such  an  effective  fire  that  nothing 
could  be  done.  The  partisans  were  on 
foot,  having  left  their  steeds  well  back  in 
the  forest.  Dodging  from  tree  to  tree, 
their  locality  was  unknown  except  as 
flashes  from  their  rifles  revealed  it 
momentarily  and  the  effort  to  find  and 
dislodge  them  was  soon  abandoned. 
Meanwhile  the  drivers  beyond  the  break 
in  the  train  had  urged  forward  their  teams 
on  the  run  and  so  had  escaped,  for  it  was 
George's  policy  to  produce  as  wide  a  gap 
as  possible  between  the  wagons  he  had 
cut  off  and  those  permitted  to  pass  on. 
The  desperate  efforts  made,  for  a  brief 
time,  to  get  the  delayed  wagons  forward 
were  frustrated.  The  moment  any  one 
appeared  prominent  in  giving  useful 
orders  or  effective  service  he  was  shot. 
Then  came  the  mad  rush  of  the  flying 


PA  R  TING  BL  0  W S-  WEDDING  B  UGLES.      1 49 

dragoons ;  drivers  abandoned  their  teams, 
and,  v/ith  the  infantry  escort,  joined  the 
forward  stampede,  the  partisans  following 
until  checked  by  the  British  support 
already  mentioned.  They  did  not  give 
way  before  this,  but  taking  to  the  woods, 
began  such  an  effective  fire,  that  the 
enemy  again  retreated,  abandoning  the 
wagons  finally.  In  order  to  make  sure 
of  their  prey,  however,  a  place  was 
speedily  found  where  the  vehicles  could 
be  turned,  and  soon  twenty  heavily  laden 
wagons  were  headed  toward  Charlotte 
again,  as  they  had  been  nineteen  days 
before.  Now,  however,  the  drivers  and 
escort  were  exultant  Whigs,  proud  and 
happy  over  their  success,  and  feeling  that 
they  had  captured  something  that  would 
make  good,  in  part,  their  terrible  losses. 

The  haggard,  careworn  villagers,  whose 
lives  had  been  made  a  burden  by  the 
British  occupation,  greeted  the  cavalcade 
in  the  dawn  with  shouts  of  rejoicing. 
Friends  and  relatives,  long  parted,  em 
braced  each  other,  and  even  wept  for  joy. 
Indeed,  never  before,  in  the  old  North 


ISO     PARTING  BLOWS— WEDDING  BUGLES. 

State,  had  there  been  such  a  general 
hand-shaking. 

George  Graham  modestly  declined  to 
receive  any  of  the  spoils  himself.  That 
which  would  be  of  service  to  the  cause 
was  stored  for  public  use,  and  the  rest 
distributed  among  those  who  had  suffered 
the  greatest  losses.  Except  the  dead, 
the  wounded,  and  a  few  prisoners,  no 
British  soldiers  remained  in  the  region. 
The  first  were  buried  and  the  others 
treated  with  a  humanity  which  they  had 
not  always  shown. 

Early  in  the  day,  Angus  and  Burton 
returned  to  those  who  had  retained  many 
of  their  thoughts,  even  in  the  thick  of 
battle ;  and  never  had  they  received  a 
gladder  welcome.  George,  and  a  few  of 
his  most  intimate  followers,  joined  them 
in  the  evening,  and,  although  all  were 
exceedingly  wearied,  they  were  too  excited 
and  happy  for  immediate  sleep. 

"  Well,"  said  George,  leaning  back  in 
his  chair,  "such  a  supper  as  I've  just 
eaten  ought  to  make  one  content  with 
his  lot  and  at  peace  with  all  the  world. 


PAR  TING  BL  0  WS—  WEDDING  B  UGLES.     1 5 1 

That'll  be  my  condition,  I  reckon,  for  the 
next  twelve  hours.  Then  I  shall  put  out 
for  a  visit  to  Joe,  since  the  news  will  do 
him  more  good  than  medicine.  But  I 
shall  be  back  soon,  and  then,  fellows,  I'm 
going  to  raise  a  troop  for  the  regular 
service.  There  shall  be  no  sitting  down 
in  the  chimney  corner  for  me  until  the 
red-coats  have  been  driven  to  their 
ships." 

There  was  not  one  present  but  wished 
to  serve  under  George.  Some  were  so 
young,  however,  that  they  felt  they  must 
first  consult  their  parents. 

Burton  now  gave  George  a  significant 
glance,  indicating  that  something  should 
be  said  which  had  been  agreed  upon 
beforehand.  "  Oh,"  resumed  George, 
good-naturedly,  "  I  know  how  it  will  be. 
Some  can  ride  with  me  to  future  exploits, 
and  some  can  not,  and  ought  not  to.  I 
reckon  the  duty  and  inclination  of  each 
will  soon  be  clear.  But  before  we  break 
up  our  old  relations  I  feel  that  something 
should  be  done  to  celebrate  our  happy 
escapes  and  general  good  fortune — some- 


152     PARTING  BLO  WS—  WEDDING  B UGLES. 

thing  that  will  complete  our  experiences 
together  and  leave  the  pleasantest  of 
memories.  In  order  to  bring  this  about, 
I  shall  have  to  appeal  to  our  kind  hostess 
and  her  fair  daughter.  They  both  know 
that  I'd  bite  my  tongue  out  before 
I'd  ask  a  favor  which  was  not  for  their 
good  as  well  as  for  mine.  Yet  I  am 
going  to  ask  something  that  will  be  a 
great  favor  to  me,  and  a  far  greater 
one  to  my  friend,  Burton  Craige,  and 
that  is  that  we  celebrate  our  successes 
and  relief  from  daily  and  hourly  fear  of 
every  kind  of  wrong  by  an  old-fashioned 
country  wedding.  Nay,  good  Mistress 
Mclntire,  do  not  start.  I  know  you  are 
about  to  say  that  they  are  too  young,  and 
all  that ;  but  I  can  tell  you  that  there's 
many  a  graybeard  in  the  country  that  is 
not  so  much  of  a  man  as  Burton.  You 
are  left  without  a  husband  ;  he  without 
father  or  mother,  and  the  future  is  uncer 
tain  to  us  all.  These  are  not  ordinary, 
peaceful  times.  We  must  secure  what 
we  can  while  we  can.  What's  more,  when 
Burton  gives  Ella  his  name,  he  endows 


PARTING  BLOWS— WEDDING  BUGLES. 


>s! 


her  with  a  goodly  property,  and  provides 
for  her  future,  as  he  wishes  to  do,  no 
matter  what  may  happen  to  him." 

"Yes,  mother,  dear,"  cried  Burton, 
"  George  knows  how  to  talk  and  has  ex 
pressed  my  wishes  —  my  dearest  hopes. 
Before  I  ride  away  with  him  to  new  dan 
gers  I  want  to  call  Ella  my  wife,  and 
give  her  all  I  have  in  the  world,  with 
myself." 

"And  we,  Mistress  Mclntyre,"  said  the 
other  young  men    in    chorus,  "wouldn't 
miss  the  chance  of  dancing  at  Burton's,, 
wedding  for  all  the  pay  we  ever  expect 
from  Congress." 

"  Well,  well,"  said  the  good  woman, 
smiling,  yet  wiping  tears  from  her  eyes, 
"how  can  I  refuse  any  thing  to  such 
friends  as  you  have  been  to  me  and  mine ! 
If  Burton  so  wishes  it — Angus,  you  have 
done  so  much  towards  taking  your  father's 
place,  that  you,  after  all,  are  the  one  to 
speak." 

"Oh,  Burton's  talked  me  over," replied 
the  boy,  laughing,  and  his  words  found 
an  echo  in  a  merry  shout  of  exultation. 


154     PARTING  BLOWS— WEDDING  BUGLES. 

Ella,  meanwhile,  had  been  standing  a 
little  aloof,  blushing  like  a  Carolina  rose 
as  she  was.  Now  she  tossed  her  head 
indignantly,  and  said,  "  But  I've  not  been 
talked  over.  I  reckon  I've  something  to 
say  in  the  matter." 

Every  young  trooper  sprung  from  his 
chair,  overturning  some  in  their  eager 
ness,  and,  led  by  Burton,  knelt  at  her 
feet.  She  tried  to  avert  her  face  and 
look  aggrieved,  but  their  comical  posi 
tion  and  outstretched  hands  upset  her 
gravity.  Her  mouth  twitched,  then  out 
chimed  a  mellow  peal  of  laughter.  In 
stantly  Burton  seized  her  hand,  carried  it 
to  his  lips,  and,  standing  by  her  side, 
declared  that  he  was  ready  for  the  cer 
emony  at  once. 

It  was  eventually  arranged  that  the 
wedding  should  take  place  a  week  from 
that  day,  and  that  the  happy  pair  should 
spend  their  honeymoon  at  Burton's  plan 
tation.  The  days  passed  swiftly  in  the 
bustle  of  preparation.  Burton's  home 
was  put  in  order  to  receive  its  young 
mistress,  his  aunt  returning  from  her 


PAR  TING  BL  0  WS—  WEDDING  B  UGLES.      1 5  5 

Northern  refuge  to  superintend  arrange 
ments,  and  to  do  honor  to  the  occasion. 
Invitations  were  sent  out  to  relatives, 
friends  and  neighbors;  the  woods  and 
plantations  scoured  for  the  materials  of 
the  feast. 

The  sun  of  the  twenty-second  of  Octo 
ber  sank  below  a  cloudless  horizon. 
There  was  no  chill  in  the  soft  Southern 
air.  As  the  shadows  deepened,  slaves 
piled  wood  on  the  kindling  fires  in  the 
dooryard,  and  the  assembling  guests 
hung  lanterns  in  the  trees.  The  good 
Scotch  Presbyterian  pastor  was  present, 
unbending  his  wonted  gravity  to  smiles 
and  words  in  harmony  with  the  occasion. 
Neighbors  trooped  thither  from  far  and 
near,  glad  of  a  little  natural  mirth  after 
their  sad  experiences.  The  young  Whig 
troopers,  with  George  at  their  head,  were 
ranged  together,  wearing  their  side-arms, 
and  with  tassels  of  pine  nodding  in  their 
caps  for  plumes. 

At  last,  leaning  on  the  arm  of  Angus 
and  followed  by  her  mother,  little  sisters 
and  relatives,  Ella  came  down  the  veranda 


I5<3     PARTING  BLOWS— WEDDING  BUGLES. 

steps  to  the  open,  lighted  space,  where 
Burton  and  his  aunt  awaited  her,  and 
then,  as  was  befitting  the  bride  of  a  par 
tisan  soldier,  was  married  on  the  green 
sward,  beneath  the  starlit  sky.  During 
the  service  all  hats  were  reverently  re 
moved  ;  at  its  conclusion  the  bugles 
rang  out  loud  and  merrily.  These  were 
the  wedding-bells.  Soon  after  the  open 
space  between  the  fires  was  cleared, 
the  initial  tuning  of  fiddlers  was  heard, 
and  Burton  and  Ella  led  a  score  of 
couples  down  the  green  in  the  graceful 
minuet. 

With  a  parting  glance  at  the  picture, 
with  its  fantastic  lights  and  shadows,  its 
chance  and  varied  groupings,  its  costumes, 
now  strange  to  our  eyes,  we  take  leave  of 
those  whom  we  have-  followed  through 
very  different  scenes.  Among  the  many 
faces,  some  distinct  in  the  broad  glare 
and  others  dim  in  the  dusky  background, 
there  is  none  from  which  we  turn  so  re 
gretfully  as  that  of  Angus  Mclntire.  He 
looks  very  boyish  as  he  stands  with  parted, 
smiling  lips  and  quietly  observant  eyes, 


PARTING  BLO  WS— WEDDING  BUGLES.     15'; 

but  the  manner  in  which  his  mother  leans 
Upon  his  arm  proves  that  he  has  already 
won  the  best  possession  of  manhood — • 
trusC 


A  CHRISTMAS-EVE  SUIT. 


Christmas  holidays  had  come, 
1  and  with  tnem  a  welcome  vacation 
for  Hedley  Marstern.  Although  as  yet 
a  briefless  young  lawyer,  he  had  a  case 
in  hand  which  absorbed  many  of  his 
thoughts,  —  the  conflicting  claims  of  two 
young  women  in  his  native  village  on  the 
Hudson.  It  must  not  be  imagined  that 
the  young  women  were  pressing  their 
claims,  except  as  they  did  so  unconsciously, 
by  virtue  of  their  sex  and  various  charms. 
Nevertheless,  Marstern  was  not  the  first 
lawyer  who  had  clients  over  whom  mid 
night  oil  was  burned,  they  remaining  un 
aware  of  the  fact. 

If  not  yet  a  constitutional  attorney,  he 
was  at  least  constitutionally  one.  Fall 
ing  helplessly  in  love  with  one  girl  sim 
plifies  matters.  There  are  no  distracting 
pros  and  cons,  —  nothing  required  but  a 
concentration  of  faculties  to  win  the  en- 
159 


l6o  A  CttI5TXJ.S~£rE.   S\ 


slaver,  and  so  adkiere  mastery. 
did  not  appear  aneBable  to  Ac 
influences  which  bSnid  tiie  eyes  anc 
throne  reason,  iospariag  •§  its  place  an 
overwhelaBBBg;  ••poise  to  capture  a  for- 
girl  because  (to  a  heated i 


tion)  she  surpasses  all  her  sex. 
he  was  level-headed  en 
that  he  would  never  capture 
girl;  but  he  hoped  to  secure  one  who 
promised  to  make  as  good  a  wife  as  be 
would  try  to  be  a  husband,  and,  witk  a 
fair  amount  of  self-esteem,  he  was  con 
scious  of  imperfections.  Therefore^  in 
stead  of  fancying  that  any  of  his  fair 
acquaintances  wer  i  e  had  deliber 

ately  andr  as  some  r  in  a  vciy 

cold-blooded  fashion,  endeavored  to 
discover  what  they  actually  were.  He  had 
observed  that  a  good  deal  of  prose  fol 
lowed  the  poetry  of  wooing  and  the  EOB- 
acy  of  the  honeymoon ;  and  h 
it  might  be  well  to  criticise  a  little  before 
marriage  as  well  as  after 

There    were   a   number    of 
girls  in  tfae  social   circle   of   his 


A    CffXfSrMAS-ETE   SCIT.  l6l 

town  ;  and  he  had,  during  later  years, 
made  himself  quite  impartially  agreeable 
to  them.  Indeed,  without  much  effort 
on  his  part  he  had  become  what  is  known 
as  a  general  favorite.  He  had  been  too 
diligent  a  student  to  become  a  society 
man,  but  was  ready  enough  in  vacation 
periods  to  make  the  most  of  even-  country 
frolic,  and  even  on  great  occasions  to  rush 
up  from  the  city  and  return  at  some  un 
earthly  hour  in  the  morning  when  his 
partners  in  the  dance  were  not  half 
through  their  dreams.  While  on  these 
occasions  he  had  shared  in  the  prevailing 
hilarity,  he  nevertheless  had  the  presenti 
ment  that  some  one  of  the  laughing, 
light-footed  girls  would  one  day  pour  his 
coffee  and  send  him  to  his  office  in  either 
a  good  or  a  bad  mood  to  grapple  with  the 
problems  awaiting  him  there.  He  had 
in  a  measure  decided  that  when  he 
married  it  should  be  to  a  girl  whom  he 
had  played  with  in  childhood  and  whom 
he  knew  a  good  deal  about,  and  not  to  a 
chance  acquaintance  of  the  world  at  large. 
So,  beneath  all  his  diversified  gallantries 


162  A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT. 

he  had  maintained  a  quiet  little  policy  of 
observation,  until  his  thoughts  had  gradu 
ally  gathered  around  two  of  his  young 
associates  who,  unconsciously  to  them 
selves,  as  we  have  said,  put  in  stronger 
and  stronger  claims  every  time  he  saw 
them.  They  asserted  these  claims  in  the 
only  way  in  which  he  would  have  recog 
nized  them, — by  being  more  charming, 
agreeable,  and,  as  he  fancied,  by  being 
better  than  the  others.  He  had  not 
made  them  aware,  even  by  manner,  of 
the  distinction  accorded  to  them  ;  and  as 
yet  he  was  merely  a  friend. 

But  the  time  had  come,  he  believed, 
for  definite  action.  While  he  weighed 
and  considered,  some  prompter  fellows 
might  take  the  case  out  of  his  hands  en 
tirely  ;  therefore  he  welcomed  this  vaca 
tion  and  the  opportunities  it  afforded. 

The  festivities  began  with  what  is 
termed  in  the  country  a  "  large* party"; 
and  Carrie  Mitchell  and  Lottie  Waldo 
were  both  there,  resplendent  in  new 
gowns  made  for  the  occasion.  Marstern 
thought  them  both  charming.  They 


A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT.  163 

danced  equally  well  and  talked  nonsense 
with  much  the  same  ease  and  vivacity. 
He  could  not  decide  which  was  the  pret 
tier,  nor  did  the  eyes  and  attentions  of 
others  afford  him  any  aid.  They  were 
general  favorites,  as  well  as  himself,  al 
though  it  was  evident  that  to  some  they 
might  become  more,  should  they  give 
encouragement.  But  they  were  appar 
ently  in  the  heyday  of  their  girlhood,  and 
thus  far  had  preferred  miscellaneous  ad 
miration  to  individual  devotion.  By  the 
time  the  evening  was  over  Marstern  felt 
that  if  life  consisted  of  large  parties  he 
might  as  well  settle  the  question  by  the 
toss  of  a  copper. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  he  was 
such  a  conceited  prig  as  to  imagine  that 
such  a  fortuitous  proceeding,  or  his  best 
efforts  afterward,  could  settle  the  ques 
tion  as  it  related  to  the  girls.  It  would 
only  decide  his  own  procedure.  He  was 
like  an  old  marauding  baron,  in  honest 
doubt  from  which  town  he  can  carry  off 
the  richest  booty, — that  is,  in  case  he  can 
capture  any  one  of  them.  His  overtures 


164  A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT. 

for  capitulation  might  be  met  with  the 
"slings  and  arrows  of  outrageous  fortune," 
and  he  be  sent  limping  off  the  field. 
Nevertheless,  no  man  regrets  that  he 
must  take  the  initiative,  and  he  would  be 
less  than  a  man  who  would  fear  to  do  so. 
When  it  came  to  this  point  in  the  affair, 
Marstern  shrugged  his  shoulders  and 
thought,  "  I  must  take  my  chances  like 
the  rest."  But  he  wished  to  be  sure  that 
he  had  attained  this  point,  and  not  lay 
siege  to  one  girl  only  to  wish  afterward 
it  had  been  the  other. 

His  course  that  evening  proved  that 
he  not  only  had  a  legal  cast  of  mind  but 
also  a  judicial  one.  He  invited  both 
Miss  Mitchell  and  Miss  Waldo  to  take  a 
sleigh  ride  with  him  the  following  evening, 
fancying  that  when  sandwiched  between 
them  in  the  cutter  he  could  impartially 
note  his  impressions.  His  unsuspecting 
clients  laughingly  accepted,  utterly  un 
aware  of  the  momentous  character  of 
the  trial  scene  before  them. 

As  Marstern  smoked  a  cigar  before  re 
tiring  that  night,  he  admitted  to  himself 


A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT.  165 

that  it  was  rather  a  remarkable  court  that 
was  about  to  be  held.  He  was  the  only 
advocate  for  the  claims  of  each,  and  fin 
ally  he  proposed  to  take  a  seat  on  the 
bench  and  judge  between  them.  Indeed, 
before  he  slept  he  decided  to  take  that 
august  position  at  once,  and  maintain  a 
judicial  impartiality  while  noting  his 
impressions. 

Christmas  Eve  happened  to  be  a  cold, 
clear,  star-lit  night;  and  when  Marstern 
drove  to  Miss  Waldo's  door,  he  asked 
himself,  "Could  a  fellow  ask  for  anything 
daintier  and  finer"  than  the  red-lipped, 
dark-eyed  girl  revealed  by  the  hall  lamp 
as  she  tripped  lightly  out,  her  anxious 
mamma  following  her  with  words  of  un 
heeded  caution  about  not  taking  cold, 
and  coming  home  early.  He  had  not 
traversed  the  mile  which  intervened  be 
tween  the  residences  of  the  two  girls  be 
fore  he  almost  wished  he  could  continue 
the  drive  under  the  present  auspices,  and 
that,  as  in  the  old  times,  he  could  take 
toll  at  every  bridge,  and  encircle  his  com 
panion  with  his  arm  as  they  bounced  over 


1 66  A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT. 

the  "  thank-'ee  mams."  The  frosty  air 
appeared  to  give  keenness  and  piquancy 
to  Miss  Lottie's  wit,  and  the  chime  of 
the  bells  was  not  merrier  or  more  musi 
cal  than  her  voice.  But  when  a  little 
later  he  saw  blue-eyed  Carrie  Mitchell  in 
her  furs  and  hood  silhouetted  in  the 
window,  his  old  dilemma  became  as  per 
plexing  as  ever.  Nevertheless,  it  was 
the  most  delightful  uncertainty  that  he 
had  ever  experienced  ;  and  he  had  a  pre 
sentiment  that  he  had  better  make  the 
most  of  it,  since  it  could  not  last  much 
longer.  Meanwhile,  he  was  hedged 
about  with  blessings  clearly  not  in  dis 
guise,  and  he  gave  utterance  to  this 
truth  as  he  drove  away. 

"  Surely  there  never  was  so  lucky 
a  fellow.  Here  I  am  kept  warm 
and  happy  by  the  two  finest  girls  in 
town." 

"Yes,"  said  Lottie;  "and  it's  a  shame 
you  can't  sit  on  both  sides  of  us." 

"  I  assure  you  I  wish  it  were  possible. 
It  would  double  my  pleasure." 

"  I'm    very    well    content,"    remarked 


A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT.  167 

Carrie  quietly,  "  as  long  as  I  can  keep  on 
the  right  side  of  people— 

"  Well,  you  are  not  on  the  right  side 
to-night,"  interrupted  Lottie. 

"Good  gracious!"  thought  Marstern, 
"  she's  next  to  my  heart.  I  wonder  if 
that  will  give  her  unfair  advantage ; " 
but  Carrie  explained: 

"  Of  course  I  was  speaking  metaphor 
ically." 

"  In  that  aspect  of  the  case  it  would  be 
a  shame  to  me  if  any  side  I  have  is  not 
right  toward  those  who  have  so  honored 
me,"  he  hastened  to  say. 

"  Oh,  Carrie  has  all  the  advantage — 
she  is  next  to  your  heart." 

"  Would  you  like  to  exchange  places  ?" 
was  the  query  flashed  back  by  Carrie. 

"  Oh,  no  !  I'm  quite  as  content  as  you 
are." 

"  Why,  then,  since  I  am  more  than 
content — exultant,  indeed, — it  appears 
that  we  all  start  from  excellent  premises 
to  reach  a  happy  conclusion  of  our 
Christmas  Eve,"  cried  Marstern. 

"  Now    you    are     talking    shop,    Mr, 


1 68  A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT. 

Lawyer — Premises  and  Conclusions,  in 
deed  !  "  said  Lottie  ;  "  since  you  are  such 
a  happy  sandwich,  you  must  be  a  tongue 
sandwich,  and  be  very  entertaining." 

He  did  his  best,  the  two  girls  second 
ing  his  efforts  so  genially  that  he  found 
himself,  after  driving  five  miles,  psycho 
logically  just  where  he  was  physically — 
between  them,  as  near  to  one  in  his 
thoughts  and  preferences  as  to  the  other. 

"  Let  us  take  the  river  road  home," 
suggested  Lottie. 

"  As  long  as  you  agree,"  he  answered, 
"  you  both  are  sovereign  potentates.  If 
you  should  express  conflicting  wishes,  I 
should  have  to  stop  here  in  the  road  till 
one  abdicated  in  favor  of  the  other,  or  we 
all  froze." 

"  But  you,  sitting  so  snugly  between 
us,  would  not  freeze,"  said  Lottie.  "  If 
we  were  obstinate  we  should  have  to  as 
sume  our  pleasantest  expressions,  and 
then  you  could  eventually  take  us  home 
as  bits  of  sculpture.  In  fact,  I'm  getting 
cold  already." 

"Are  you  also,  Miss  Carrie?" 


A   CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT.  169 

"  Oh,  I'll  thaw  out  before  summer. 
Don't  mind  me." 

"  Well,  then,  mind  me,"  resumed  Lottie. 
"  See  how  white  and  smooth  the  river 
looks.  Why  can't  we  drive  home  on  the 
ice  ?  It  will  save  miles — I  mean  it  looks 
so  inviting." 

"Oh,  dear!"  cried  Carrie,  "I  feel  like 
protesting  now.  The  longest  way  round 
may  be  both  the  shortest  and  safest  way 
home." 

"  You  ladies  shall  decide.  This  morn 
ing  I  drove  over  the  route  we  would  take 
to-night,  and  I  should  not  fear  to  take  a 
ton  of  coal  over  it." 

"  A  comparison  suggesting  warmth  and 
a  grate  fire.  I  vote  for  the  river,"  said 
Lottie  promptly. 

"  Oh,  well,  Mr.  Marstern,  if  you've 
been  over  the  ice  so  recently — I  only 
wish  to  feel  reasonably  safe." 

"  I  declare  !  "  thought  Marstern,  "  Lot 
tie  is  the  braver  and  more  brilliant  girl  ; 
and  the  fact  that  she  is  not  inclined  to 
forego  the  comfort  of  the  home  fire  for  the 
pleasure  of  my  company,  reveals  the  dif- 


17°  A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT. 

ficulty  of,  and  therefore  incentive  to,  the 
suit  I  may  decide  to  enter  upon  before 
New  Year's." 

Meanwhile,  his  heart  on  Carrie's  side 
began  to  grow  warm  and  alert,  as  if  re 
cognizing  an  affinity  to  some  object  not 
far  off.  Granting  that  she  had  not  been 

O 

so  brilliant  as  Lottie,  she  had  been  emi 
nently  companionable  in  a  more  quiet 
way.  If  there  had  not  been  such  bursts 
of  enthusiasm  at  the  beginning  of  the 
drive,  her  enjoyment  appeared  to  have 
more  staying  powers.  He  liked  her  none 
the  less  that  her  eyes  were  often  turned 
toward  the  stars  or  the  dark  silhouettes 
of  the  leafless  trees  against  the  snow. 
She  did  not  keep  saying,  "  Ah,  how 
lovely  !  What  a  fine  bit  that  is  !  "  but  he 
had  only  to  follow  her  eyes  to  see  some 
thing  worth  looking  at. 

"  A  proof  that  Miss  Carrie  also  is  not 
so  preoccupied  with  the  pleasure  of  my 
company  that  she  has  no  thoughts  for 
other  things,"  cogitated  Marstern.  "  It's 
rather  in  her  favor  that  she  prefers  nature 
to  a  grate  fire.  They're  about  even  yet." 


A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT.  I? I 

Meanwhile  the  horse  was  speeding 
along  on  the  white,  hard  expanse  of  the 
river,  skirting  the  west  shore.  They  now 
had  only  about  a  mile  to  drive  before 
striking  land  again  ;  and  the  scene  was 
so  beautiful  with  the  great  dim  outlines 
of  the  mountains  before  them  that  both 
the  girls  suggested  that  they  should  go 
leisurely  for  a  time. 

"  We  shouldn't  hastily  and  carelessly 
pass  such  a  picture  as  that,  anymore  than 
one  would  if  a  fine  copy  of  it  were  hung 
in  a  gallery,"  said  Carrie.  "  The  stars 
are  so  brilliant  along  the  brow  of  that 

highland  yonder  that  they  form  a  dia 

Oh,  oh,  what  is  the  matter  ? "  and  she 
clung  to  Marstern's  arm. 

The  horse  was  breaking  through  the 
ice. 

"Whoa!"  said  Marstern  firmly.  Even 
as  he  spoke,  Lottie  was  out  of  the  sleigh 
and  running  back  on  the  ice,  crying  and 
wringing  her  hands. 

"  We  shall  be  drowned ! "  she  al 
most  screamed  hysterically.  "  Mr.  Mars- 
tern,  what  shall  we  do  ?  Can't  we 


172  A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT. 

turn  around  and  go  back  the  way  we 
came  ?  " 

"  Miss  Carrie,  will  you  do  what  I  ask  ? 
Will  you  believe  me  when  I  say  that  I  do 
not  think  you  are  in  any  danger?" 

"  Yes,  I'll  do  my  best,"  she  replied, 
catching  her  breath.  She  grew  calm 
rapidly  as  he  tried  to  reassure  Lottie, 
telling  her  that  water  from  the  rising  of 
the  tide  had  overflowed  the  main  ice  and 
that  thin  ice  had  formed  over  it,  also  that 
the  river  at  the  most  was  only  two  or 
three  feet  deep  at  that  point.  But  all 
was  of  no  avail ;  Lottie  stood  out  upon 
the  ice  in  a  panic,  declaring  that  he  never 
should  have  brought  them  into  such 
danger,  and  that  he  must  turn  around  at 
once  and  go  back  as  they  came. 

"  But,  Miss  Waldo,  the  tide  is  rising, 
and  we  may  find  wet  places  returning. 
Besides,  it  would  bring  us  home  very 
late.  Now,  Miss  Carrie  and  I  will  drive 
slowly  across  this  place  and  then  return 
for  you.  After  we  have  been  across  it 
twice  you  surely  won't  fear." 

"  I  won't  be  left  alone ;  suppose   you 


A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT.  173 

two  should  break  through  and  disappear, 
what  would  become  of  me  ?  " 

"  You  would  be  better  off  than  we,"  he 
replied,  laughing. 

"  I  think  it's  horrid  of  you  to  laugh. 
Oh,  I'm  so  cold  and  frightened  !  I  feel 
as  if  the  ice  were  giving  way  under  my 
feet." 

"  Why,  Miss  Lottie,  we  just  drove  over 
that  spot  where  you  stand.  Here,  Miss 
Carrie  shall  stay  with  you  while  I  drive 
back  and  forth  alone." 

"  Then  if  you  were  drowned  we'd  both 
be  left  alone  to  freeze  to  death." 

"  I  pledge  you  my  word  you  shall  be  by 
that  grate  fire  within  less  than  an  hour  if 
you  will  trust  me  five  minutes." 

"  Oh,  well,  if  you  will  risk  your  life  and 
ours  too  ;  but  Carrie  must  stay  with  me." 

"  Will  you  trust  me,  Miss  Carrie,  and 
help  me  out  of  this  scrape  ?  " 

Carrie  was  recovering  from  her  panic, 
and  replied,  "  I  have  given  you  my 
promise." 

He  was  out  of  the  sleigh  instantly,  and 
the  thin  ice  broke  with  him  also.  "I 


174  A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT. 

must  carry  you  a  short  distance,"  he  said. 
"  I  cannot  allow  you  to  get  your  feet  wet. 
Put  one  arm  around  my  neck,  so  ;  now 
please  obey  as  you  promised." 

She  did  so  without  a  word,  and  he  bore 
her  beyond  the  water,  inwardly  exulting 
and  blessing  that  thin  ice.  His  decision 
was  coming  with  the  passing  seconds ; 
indeed  it  had  come.  Returning  to  the 
sleigh  he  drove  slowly  forward,  his  horse 
making  a  terrible  crunching  and  splash 
ing,  Lottie  meanwhile  keeping  up  a  stac 
cato  accompaniment  of  little  shrieks. 

"  Ah,  my  charming  creature,"  he 
thought,  "with  you  it  was  only,  'What 
will  become  of  me  ?  '  I  might  not  have 
found  out  until  it  was  too  late  the  relative 
importance  of  'me'  in  the  universe  had 
we  not  struck  this  bad  crossing ;  and  one 
comes  to  plenty  of  bad  places  to  cross  in 
a  lifetime." 

The  area  of  thin  ice  was  not  very  nar 
row,  and  he  was  becoming  but  a  dim  and 
shadowy  outline  to  the  girls.  Lottie  was 
now  screaming  for  his  return.  Having 
crossed  the  overflowed  space  and  abso- 


A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT.  1 75 

lutely  assured  himself  that  there  was  no 
danger,  he  returned  more  rapidly  and 
found  Carrie  trying  to  calm  her  com 
panion. 

"  Oh,"  sobbed  Lottie,  "  my  feet  are  wet 
and  almost  frozen.  The  ice  underneath 
may  have  borne  you,  but  it  won't  bear  all 
three  of  us.  Oh,  dear,  I  wish  I  hadn't — 
I  wish  I  was  home  ;  and  I  feel  as  if  I'd 
never  get  there." 

"Miss  Lottie,  I  assure  you  that  the  ice 
will  hold  a  ton,  but  I'll  tell  you  what 
I'll  do.  I  shall  put  you  in  the  sleigh,  and 
Miss  Carrie  will  drive  you  over.  You 
two  together  do  not  weigh  much  more 

o  c> 

than  I  do.  I'll  walk  just  behind  you 
with  my  hands  on  the  back  of  the  sleigh, 
and  if  I  see  the  slightest  danger  I'll  lift 
you  out  of  the  sleigh  first  and  carry  you 
to  safety." 

This  proposition  promised  so  well  that 
she  hesitated,  and  he  lifted  her  in 
instantly  before  she  could  change  her 
mind,  then  helped  Carrie  in  with  a  quiet 
pressure  of  the  hand,  as  much  as  to  say, 
"  I  shall  depend  on  you." 


176  A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT. 

"  But,  Mr,  Marstern,  you'll  get  your 
feet  wet,"  protested  Carrie. 

"  That  doesn't  matter,"  he  replied 
good-naturedly.  ''  I  shall  be  no  worse  off 
than  Miss  Lottie,  and  I'm  determined  to 
convince  her  of  safety.  Now  go  straight 
ahead  as  I  direct." 

Once  the  horse  stumbled,  and  Lottie 
thought  he  was  going  down  head  first. 
"  Oh,  lift  me  out,  quick,  quick ! "  she 
cried. 

"  Yes,  indeed  I  will,  Miss  Lottie,  as 
soon  as  we  are  opposite  that  grate  fire  of 
yours." 

They  were  soon  safely  over,  and  within 
a  half  hour  reached  Lottie's  home.  It 
was  evident  she  was  a  little  ashamed  of 
her  behavior,  and  she  made  some  effort 
to  retrieve  herself.  But  she  was  cold 
and  miserable,  vexed  with  herself,  and 
still  more  vexed  with  Marstern.  That  a 
latent  sense  of  justice  forbade  the  latter 
feeling  only  irritated  her  the  more. :-  In 
dividuals  as  well  as  communities  must 
have  scapegoats  ;  and  it  is  not  an  unusual 
impulse  on  the  part  of  some  to  blame 


A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT.  1 77 

and  dislike  those  before  whom  they  have 
humiliated  themselves. 

She  gave  her  companions  a  rather 
formal  invitation  to  come  in  and  get 
warm  before  proceeding  farther;  but 
Marstern  said  very  politely  that  he 
thought  it  was  too  late,  unless  Miss 
Carrie  was  cold.  Carrie  protested  that 
she  was  not  so  cold  but  that  she  could 
easily  wait  till  she  reached  her  own  fire 
side. 

"  Well,  good-night,  then  !  "  And  the 
door  was  shut  a  trifle  emphatically. 

"  Mr.  Marstern,"  said  Carrie  sympa 
thetically,  "  your  feet  must  be  very  cold 
and  wet  after  splashing  through  all  that 
ice  water." 

"They  are,"  he  replied;  "but  I  don't 
mind  it.  Well,  if  I  had  tried  for  years  I 
could  not  have  found  such  a  test  of  char 
acter  as  we  had  to-night." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Oh,  well,  you  two  girls  did  not  be 
have  exactly  alike.  I  liked  the  way  you 
behaved.  You  helped  me  out  of  a  con 
founded  scrape." 


I7§  A    CHRISTMAS-EVE  SUIT. 

"  Would  you  have  tried  for  years  to 
find  a  test?"  she  asked,  concealing  the 
keenness  of  her  query  under  a  laugh. 

"  I  should  have  been  well  rewarded  if 
I  had,  by  such  a  fine  contrast,"  he 
replied. 

Carrie's  faculties  had  not  so  congealed 
but  that  his  words  set  her  thinking.  She 
had  entertained  at  times  the  impression 
that  she  and  Lottie  were  his  favorites. 
Had  he  taken  them  out  that  night 
together  in  me  hope  of  contrasts,  of  find 
ing  tests  that  would  help  his  halting 
decision  ?  He  had  ventured  where  the 
intuitions  of  a  girl  like  Carrie  Mitchell 
were  almost  equal  to  second  sight ;  and 
she  was  alert  for  what  would  come  next. 

He  accepted  her  invitation  to  come  in 
and  warm  his  feet  at  the  ^lowinor  fire  ju 

o  o 

the  grate,  which  Carrie's  father  had  made 
before   retiring.      Mrs.    Mitchell,   feelini 
that  her  daughter  was  with  an  old  friend 
and  playmate,  did  not  think  the  presence 
of   a   chaperon     essential,    and    left    the 
young    people    alone.       Carrie    bustle* 
about,     brought     cake,     and    made    hot 


A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT.  179 

lemonade,  while  Marstern  stretched  his 
feet  to  the  grate  with  a  luxurious  sense 
of  comfort  and  complacency,  thinking 
how  homelike  it  all  was,  and  how  paradisi 
cal  life  would  become  if  such  a  charming 
little  Hebe  presided  over  his  home.  His 
lemonade  became  nectar  offered  by  such 
hands. 

She  saw  the  different  expression  in  his 
eyes.  It  was  now  homage,  decided 
preference  for  one,  and  not  mere  gallantry 
to  two.  Outwardly  she  was1  demurely 
oblivious  and  maintained  simply  her 
wonted  friendliness.  Marstern,  however, 
was  thawing  in  more  senses  than  one,  and 
he  was  possessed  by  a  strong  impulse  to 
begin  an  open  siege  at  once. 

"  I  haven't  had  a  single  suit  of  any 
kind  yet,  Carrie,"  he  said,  dropping  the 
prefix  of  "  Miss,"  which  had  gradually 
been  adopted  as  they  had  grown  up. 

"  Oh,  well,  that  was  the  position  of  all 
the  great  lawyers  once,"  she  replied, 
laughing.  Marstern's  father  was  wealthy, 
and  all  knew  that  he  could  afford  to  be 
briefless  for  a  time. 


l8o  A    CHRISTMAS-EVE    SUIT. 

"  I  may  never  be  great,  but  I  shall 
work  as  hard  as  any  of  them,"  he  con 
tinued.  "  To  tell  you  the  honest  truth, 
however,  this  would  be  the  happiest 
Christmas  Eve  of  my  life  if  I  had  a  down 
right  suit  on  my  hands.  Why  can't  I  be 
frank  with  you  and  say  I'd  like  to  begin 
the  chief  suit  of  my  life  now  and  here,— 
a  suit  for  this  little  hand?  I'd  plead 
for  it  as  no  lawyer  ever  pleaded  before. 
I  settled  that  much  down  on  the 
ice." 

"  And  if  I  hadn't  happened  to  behave 
on  the  ice  in  a  manner  agreeable  to  your 
lordship,  you  would  have  pleaded  with 
,the  other  girl?"  she  remarked,  with 
drawing  her  hand  and  looking  him 
directly  in  the  eyes. 

"What  makes  you  think  so?"  he 
asked  somewhat  confusedly. 

"  You  do." 

He  sprang  up  and  paced  the  room  a 
few  moments,  then  confronted  her  with 
the  words,  "  You  shall  have  the  whole 
truth.  Any  woman  that  I  would  ask  to 
be  my  wife  is  entitled  to  that,"  and  he 


A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT.  l8l 

told  her  just  what  the  attitude  of  his 
mind  had  been  from  the  first. 

She  laughed  outright,  then  gave  him 
her  hand  as  she  said,  "Your  honesty 
insures  that  we  can  be  very  good  friends ; 
but  I  don't  wish  to  hear  anything  more 
about  suits  which  are  close  of  kin  to  law 
suits." 

He  looked  very  dejected,  feeling  that 
he  had  blundered  fatally  in  his  precipita 
tion. 

"  Come  now,  Hedley,  be  sensible,"  she 
resumed,  half  laughing,  half  serious. 
"  As  you  say,  we  can  be  frank  with  each 
other.  Why,  only  the  other  day  we 
were  boy  and  girl  together  coasting 
down  hill  on  the  same  sled.  You  are 
applying  your  legal  jargon  to  a  deep 
experience,  to  something  sacred — the  re 
sult,  to  my  mind,  of  a  divine  instinct. 
Neither  you  nor  I  have  ever  felt  for 
each  other  this  instinctive  preference, 
this  subtle  gravitation  of  the  heart. 
Don't  you  see  ?  Your  head  has  been 
concerned  about  me,  and  only  your  head. 
By  a  kindred  process  you  would  select 


l8?  A    CHRIS7WAS-EVE   SUIT. 

one  bale  of  merchandise  in  preference  to 
another.  Good  gracious !  I've  faults 
enough.  You'll  meet  some  other  girl 
that  will  stand  some  other  test  far  better 
than  I.  I  want  a  little  of  what  you  call 
silly  romance  in  my  courtship.  See ;  I 
can  talk  about  this  suit  as  coolly  and 
fluently  as  you  can.  We'd  make  a  nice 
pair  of  lovers,  about  as  frigid  as  the  ice- 
water  you  waded  through  so  good- 
naturedly  ";  and  the  girl's  laugh  rang  out 
merrily,  awakening  echoes  in  the  old 
house.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mitchell  might  rest 
securely  when  their  daughter  could  laugh 
like  that.  It  was  the  mirth  of  a  genuine 
American  girl  whose  self-protection  was 
better  than  the  care  of  a  thousand 
duennas. 

He  looked  at  her  with  honest  admira 
tion  in  his  eyes,  then  rose  quietly  and 
said,  "That's  fine,  Carrie.  Your  head's 
worth  two  of  mine,  and  you'd  make  the 
better  lawyer.  You  see  through  a  case 
from  top  to  bottom.  You  were  right — I 
wasn't  in  love  with  you  ;  I  don't  know 
whether  I'm  in  love  with  you  now,  and 


A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT.  183 

you  haven't  an  infinitesimal  spark  for  me. 
Nevertheless,  I  begin  my  suit  here  and 
now,  and  I  shall  never  withdraw  it  till 
you  are  engaged  to  another  fellow.  So 
there!" 

Carrie  looked  rather  blank  at  this  re 
sult  of  her  reductio  ad  absurdum  pro 
cess;  and  he  did  not  help  her  by  adding, 
"  A  fellow  isn't  always  in  love.  There 
must  be  a  beginning  ;  and  when  I  arrive 
at  this  beginning  under  the  guidance  of 
reason,  judgment,  and  observation,  I 
don't  see  as  I'm  any  more  absurd  than 
the  fellow  who  tumbles  helplessly  in  love, 
he  doesn't  know  why.  What  becomes  of 
all  these  people  who  have  divine  gravita 
tions  ?  You  and  I  both  know  of  some 
who  had  satanic  repulsions  afterward. 
They  used  their  eyes  and  critical  facul 
ties  after  marriage  instead  of  before. 
The  romance  exhaled  like  a  morning 
mist  ;  and  the  facts  came  out  distinctly. 
They  learned  what  kind  of  man  and 
woman  they  actually  were,  and  two  ideal 
ized  creatures  were  sent  to  limbo.  Be 
cause  I  don't  blunder  upon  the  woman  I 


1 84  A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT. 

wish  to  marry,  but  pick  her  out,  that's  no 
reason  I  can't  and  won't  love  her.  Your 
analysis  and  judgment  were  correct  only 
up  to  date.  You  have  now  to  meet  a 
suit  honestly,  openly  announced.  This 
may  be  bad  policy  on  my  part ;  yet  I 
have  so  much  faith  in  you  and  respect 
for  you  that  I  don't  believe  you  will 
let  my  precipitation  create  a  prejudice. 
Give  me  a  fair  hearing  ;  that's  all  I  ask." 

"  Well,  well,  I'll  promise  not  to  frown, 
even  though  some  finer  paragon  should 
throw  me  completely  in  the  shade." 

"  You  don't  believe  in  me  yet,"  he 
resumed,  after  a  moment  of  thought.  "  I 
felt  that  I  had  blundered  awfully  a  while 
ago  ;  but  I  doubt  it.  A  girl  of  your  per 
ceptions  would  soon  have  seen  it  all. 
I've  not  lost  anything  by  being  frank 
from  the  start.  Be  just  to  me,  however. 
It  wasn't  policy  that  led  me  to  speak,  but 
this  homelike  scene,  and  you  appearing 
like  the  good  genius  of  a  home." 

He  pulled  out  his  watch,  and  gave  a 
low  whistle  as  he  held  it  toward  her. 
Then  his  manner  suddenly  became  grave 


A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT.  185 

and  gentle.  "  Carrie,"  he  said,  "  I  wish 
you,  not  a  merry  Christmas,  but  a  happy 
one,  and  many  of  them.  It  seems  to  me 
it  would  be  a  great  privilege  for  a  man 
to  make  a  woman  like  you  happy." 

"Is  this  the  beginning  of  the  suit?" 
she  asked,  with  a  laugh  that  was  a  little 
forced. 

"  I  don't  know.  Perhaps  it  is ;  but  I 
spoke  just  as  I  felt.  Good-night !  " 

She  would  not  admit  of  a  trace  of 
sentiment  on  her  part.  "Good-night!" 
she  said.  "  Merry  Christmas  !  Go  home 
and  hang  up  your  stocking." 

"  Bless  me  ! "  she  thought,  as  she  went 
slowly  up  the  stairs,  "  I  thought  I  was 
going  to  be  through  with  him  for  good 
and  all,  except  as  a  friend ;  but  if  he 
goes  on  this  way 

The  next  morning  a  basket  of  superb 
roses  was  left  at  her  home.  There  was 
no  card,  and  mamma  queried  and  sur 
mised  ;  but  the  girl  knew.  They  were 
not  displeasing  to  her,  and  somehow, 
before  the  day  was  over,  they  found  their 
way  to  her  room  ;  but  she  shook  her 


1 86  A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT. 

head  decidedly  as  she  said,  "  He  must  be 
careful  not  to  send  me  other  gifts,  for  I 
will  return  them  instantly.  Flowers,  in 
moderation,  never  commit  a  girl." 

But  then  came  another  gift — a  book 
with  pencilings  here  and  there,  not 
against  sentimental  passages,  but  words 
that  made  her  think.  It  was  his  manner 
in  society,  however,  that  at  once  an 
noyed,  perplexed,  and  pleased  her.  On 
the  first  occasion  they  met  in  company 
with  others,  he  made  it  clear  to  everyone 
that  he  was  her  suitor;  yet  he  was  not  a 
burr  which  she  could  not  shake  off.  He 
rather  seconded  all  her  efforts  to  have  a 
good  time  with  any  and  every  one  she 
chose.  Nor  did  he,  wallflower  fashion, 
mope  in  the  meanwhile  and  look  unut 
terable  things.  He  added  to  the  plea 
sure  of  a  score  of  others,  and  even 
conciliated  Lottie,  yet  at  the  same  time 
surrounded  the  girl  of  his  choice  with 
an  atmosphere  of  unobtrusive  devotion. 
She  was  congratulated  on  her  conquest 
— rather  maliciously  so  by  Lottie.  Her 
air  of  courteous  indifference  was  well 


A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT.  187 

maintained ;  yet  she  was  a  woman,  and 
could  not  help  being  flattered.  Certain 
generous  traits  in  her  nature  were 
touched  also  by  an  homage  which  yielded 
everything  and  exacted  nothing. 

The  holidays  soon  passed,  and  he 
returned  to  his  work.  She  learned  inci 
dentally  that  he  toiled  faithfully,  instead 
of  mooning  around.  At  every  coigne  of 
vantage  she  found  him,  or  some  token  of 
his  ceaseless  effort.  She  was  compelled 
to  think  of  him,  and  to  think  well  of  him. 
Though  mamma  and  papa  judiciously 
said  little,  it  was  evident  that  they  liked 
the  style  of  lover  into  which  he  was 
developing. 

Once  during  the  summer  she  said, 
"  I  don't  think  it's  right  to  let  you  go  on 
in  this  way  any  longer." 

"  Are  my  attentions  so  very  annoying?  " 

"  No,  indeed.  A  girl  never  had  a  more 
agreeable  or  useful  friend." 

"Are  you  engaged  to  some  other 
fellow?" 

"  Of  course  not.     You  know  better." 

"  There  is  no  '  of  course  not '  about  it. 


1 88  A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT. 

I  couldn't  and  wouldn't  lay  a  straw  in 
the  way.  You  are  not  bound,  but  I." 

"You  bound?" 

"  Certainly.  You  remember  what  I 
said." 

"  Then  I  must  accept  the  first  man 
that  asks  me " 

"  I  ask  you." 

"No;  someone  else,  so  as  to  unloose 
your  conscience  and  give  you  a  happy 
deliverance." 

"You  would  leave  me  still  bound  and 
hopeless  in  that  case.  I  love  you  now, 
Carrie  Mitchell." 

"Oh,  dear!  you  are  incorrigible.  It's 
just  a  lawyer's  persistence  in  winning  a 
suit." 

"  You  can  still  swear  on  the  dictionary 
that  you  don't  love  me  at  all  ?" 

"  I  might — on  the  dictionary.  There, 
I  won't  talk  about  such  things  anymore," 
and  she  resolutely  changed  the  subject. 

But  she  couldn't  swear,  even  on  the 
dictionary.  She  didn't  know  where  she 
stood  or  how  it  would  all  end ;  but 
with  increasing  frequency  the  words,  "  I 


A   CHRISTMAS-EVE  SUIT  189 

love  you  now,"  haunting  her  waking  and 
dreaming  hours. 

The  holidays  were  near  again,  and  then 
came  a  letter  from  Marstern,  asking  her 
to  take  another  sleigh  ride  with  him  on 
Christmas  Eve.  His  concluding  words 
were,  "There  is  no  other  woman  in  the 
world  that  I  want  on  the  other  side  of 
me."  She  kissed  these  words,  then 
looked  around  in  a  startled,  shamefaced 
manner,  blushing  even  in  the  solitude  of 
her  room. 

Christmas  Eve  came,  but  with  it  a 
wild  storm  of  wind  and  sleet.  She  was 
surprised  at  the  depth  of  her  disappoint 
ment.  Would  he  even  come  to  call 
through  such  a  tempest  ? 

He  did  come,  and  come  early ;  and  she 
said  demurely,  "  I  did  not  expect  you  on 
such  a  night  as  this." 

He  looked  at  her  for  a  moment,  half 
humorously,  half  seriously,  and  her  eyes 
drooped  before  his.  "You  will  know 
better  what  to  expect  next  time,"  was  his 
comment. 

"When  is  next  time?" 


19°  A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT. 

"  Any  and  every  time  which  gives  me 
a  chance  to  see  you.  Who  should  know 
that  better  than  you  ?" 

"Are  you  never  going  to  give  up?" 
she  asked  with  averted  face. 

"  Not  till  you  become  engaged." 

"  Hush  !    They  are  all  in  the  parlor." 

"  Well,  they  ought  to  know  as  much, 
by  this  time,  also." 

She  thought  it  was  astonishing  how  he 
made  himself  at  home  in  the  family 
circle.  In  half  an  hour  there  was 
scarcely  any  restraint  left  because  a 
visitor  was  present.  Yet,  as  if  impelled 
by  some  mysterious  influence,  one  after 
another  slipped  out ;  and  Carrie  saw 
with  strange  little  thrills  of  dismay  that 
she  would  soon  be  alone  with  that 
indomitable  lawyer.  She  signaled  to 
her  mother,  but  the  old  lady's  eyes  were 
glued  to  her  knitting. 

At  last  they  were  alone,  and  she 
expected  a  prompt  and  powerful  appeal 
from  the  plaintiff  ;  but  Marstern  drew 
his  chair  to  the  opposite  side  of  the 
hearth  and  chatted  so  easily,  naturally, 


A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT.  191 

and  kindly  that  her  trepidation  passed 
utterly.  It  began  to  grow  late,  and  a 
heavier  gust  than  usual  shook  the  house. 
It  appeared  to  waken  him  to  the  dire 
necessity  of  breasting  the  gale,  and  he 
rose  and  said : 

"  I  feel  as  if  I  could  sit  here  forever, 
Carrie.  It's  just  the  impression  I  had 
a  year  ago  to-night.  You,  sitting  there 
by  the  fire,  gave  then,  and  give  now  to 
this  place  the  irresistible  charm  of  home. 
I  think  I  had  then  the  decided  beginning 
of  the  divine  gravitation, — wasn't  that 
what  you  called  it? — which  has  been 
growing  so  strong  ever  since.  You 
thought  then  that  the  ice  water  I  had 
waded  through  was  in  my  veins.  Do  you 
think  so  now?  If  you  do  I' shall  have  to 
take  another  year  to  prove  the  contrary. 
Neither  am  I  convinced  of  the  absurdity 
of  my  course,  as  you  put  it  then.  I 
studied  you  coolly  and  deliberately  be 
fore  I  began  to  love  you,  and  reason  and 
judgment  have  had  no  chance  to  jeer  at 
my  love." 

"But,  Hedley,"  she  began  with  a  slight 


I92  A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT. 

tremor  in  her  tones,  "  you  are  idealizing 
me  as  certainly  as  the  blindest.  I've 
plenty  of  faults." 

"  I  haven't  denied  that ;  so  have  I 
plenty  of  faults.  What  right  have  I  to 
demand  a  perfection  I  can't  offer  ?  I 
have  known  people  to  marry  who 
imagined  each  other  perfect,  and  then 
come  to  court  for  a  separation  on  the 
ground  of  incompatibility  of  tempera 
ment.  They  learned  the  meaning  of 
that  long  word  too  late,  and  were 
scarcely  longer  about  it  than  the  word 
itself.  Now,  I'm  satisfied  that  I  could 
cordially  agree  with  you  on  some  points, 
and  lovingly  disagree  with  you  on  others. 
Chief  of  all,  it's  your  instinct  to  make  a 
home.  You  appear  better  at  your  own 
fireside  than  when  in  full  dress  at  a 
reception.  You 

"See  here,  Hedley,  you've  got  to  give 
up  this  suit  at  last.  I'm  engaged,"  and 
she  looked  away  as  if  she  could  not  meet 
his  eyes. 

"Engaged?"  he  said  slowly,  looking 
at  her  with  startled  eyes. 


A    CHRISTMAS-EVE   SUIT.  193 

"  Well,  about  the  same  as  engaged. 
My  heart  has  certainly  gone  from  me 
beyond  recall." 

He  drew  a  long  breath.  "  I  was 
foolish  enough  to  begin  to  hope,"  he 
faltered. 

"  You  must  dismiss  hope  to-night, 
then,"  she  said,  her  face  still  averted. 

He  was  silent  and  she  slowly  turned 
toward  him.  He  had  sunk  into  a  chair 
and  buried  his  face  in  his  hands,  the 
picture  of  dejected  defeat. 

There  was  a  sudden  flash  of  mirth 
through  tear-gemmed  eyes,  a  glance  at 
the  clock,  then  noiseless  steps,  and  she 
was  on  her  knees  beside  him,  her  arm 
about  his  neck,  her  blushing  face  near 
his  wondering  eyes  as  she  breathed : 

"Happy  Christmas,  Hedley!  How  do 
you  like  your  first  gift ;  and  what  room 
is  there  now  for  hope?" 


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